Common Name: trailing snapdragon
Type: Broadleaf evergreen
Family: Plantaginaceae
Native Range: Mexico, South America
Zone: 9 to 10
Height: 6.00 to 9.00 feet
Spread: 3.00 to 6.00 feet
Bloom Time: May to September
Bloom Description: Pink, violet, blue or white
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Medium
Suggested Use: Annual
Flower: Showy
Attracts: Hummingbirds
Culture
Winter hardy to USDA Zones 9-10 where it may be grown outdoors year-round as a perennial. North of Zone 9, it is typically grown as an annual, but may be overwintered indoors as a tender perennial in a sunny cool (55-60 degrees F) spot. Best growth occurs in organically rich, fertile, medium moisture, well-drained loams in full sun to part shade. This plant particularly appreciates some part afternoon shade in hot sunny climates. New plants can be propagated by seed or cuttings in spring. Where winter hardy, plants will self-seed in the garden. Where plants are not winter hardy, seed should be started indoors in cell packs or flats about 10-12 weeks prior to the last spring frost date. Seedlings can be transplanted into containers after several sets of leaves develop.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Maurandya scandens, commonly called creeping gloxinia, chickabiddy or twining snapdragon, is a popular, woody-based, tender perennial that typically grows to 6-9’ tall on twisting and twining stems which climb up through shrubs or small trees, trellises, arbors or other supports or gracefully droop from hanging baskets or over walls. This species is native to Mexico and Central America. North of Zone 9, it is typically grown as a flowering annual which is replanted in spring each year. Stems are clad with arrowhead-shaped leaves (to 1.5” long). Tubular, two-lipped, trumpet-shaped flowers (to 2” long) come in a variety of different colors including rose pink, violet, pale and deep indigo blue or white. Flowers resemble flowers of snapdragons (Antirrhinum).
Asarina scandens is a synonym.
Genus name honors Catalina Pancratia Maurandy, 18th century Spanish botany professor of Cartagena, Spain.
Specific epithet means climbing.
Problems
No serious insect or disease problems.
Uses
Tender perennial grown as annual north of Zone 9. Trellises, arbors, cascade over stone walls, hanging baskets.