Flowers That Look Like Snapdragons

The snapdragon, or Antirrhinum, is a beloved garden staple known for its distinctive silhouette and appearance. These cheerful flowers command attention with tall, vertical spikes packed densely with blooms that resemble a dragon’s mouth.

However, for various reasons, whether it’s local climate limitations, specific design aesthetics, or simply the desire for more variety, gardeners may explore alternatives that resemble this striking beauty.

The good news is that there are tons of flowers out there that mimic the snapdragon’s silhouette, colour palette, or upright growth habit, giving you plenty of options to diversify your flower bed.

Here are nine snapdragon alternatives that offer similar visual impact, ensuring your garden maintains that striking vertical elegance.

Why Do Some Flowers Resemble Snapdragons?

• Similar Floral Structure: Many snapdragon alternatives possess two-lipped (bilabiate) blooms or tubular shapes that are clustered tightly along a stem, creating a similar visual texture to the snapdragon’s distinctive “mouth”.
• Vertical Spikes: A key feature is the vertical spike or ‘raceme’ growth pattern. This strong, upward line is highly prized in garden design for adding height and structure, a trait common across this group of flowers.
• Convergent Evolution: Surprisingly, flowers in completely different families can actually evolve to have similar shapes to attract the same pollinator. This often leads to familiar forms, often with similarly vivid colours.

9 Flowers That Look Like Snapdragons

1. Penstemon (Beardtongue)

Penstemon (or ‘Beardtongue’) features numerous tubular or bell-shaped flowers clustered along tall, slender stems, providing excellent vertical accent. They come in a wide range of colours including vibrant reds, pinks, purples, blues, and bi-colours, often with striking white throats for additional visual contrast. Sizes vary greatly by cultivar ranging from compact varieties under 1 foot to towering spikes reaching 3 feet.

Growing Habit: This upright, semi-woody perennial is generally low-maintenance and often drought-tolerant once established.

Best Used In: Cottage gardens, perennial borders, and dry-tolerant garden designs. A great snapdragon substitute for hotter climates.

2. Linaria (Toadflax)

Linaria (or ‘Toadflax’) are small, delicate flowers resembling miniature snapdragons with tiny spurs behind the bloom. They often reach 1 to 2 feet in height, though some varieties are shorter. Linaria favours pastel pinks, yellows, purples, blues, and multi-coloured mixes, adding a delicate and misty texture to the garden.

Growing Habit: Bushy, upright annual or short-lived perennial that readily self-seeds, creating naturalised clumps.

Best Used In: The front of borders, rock gardens, and naturalised areas where their fine texture can soften harsher edges.

3. Stock (Matthiola)

Stock (or ‘Matthiola’) features very dense, thick spikes of sweetly fragrant flowers. While the individual blooms are more open than a snapdragon, the overall vertical column of colour is highly similar. This flower comes in soft, romantic colours like lavender, white, pink, magenta, and apricot—perfect for seasonal or romantic flower displays. They typically grow between 1 to 2.5 feet tall.

Growing Habit: Upright annual that prefers cool weather and can struggle in extreme heat.

Best Used In: Cutting gardens (due to their famous fragrance), borders, and containers near seating areas where their scent can be enjoyed.

4. Foxglove (Digitalis)

Foxglove (or ‘Digitalis’) bears dramatic, tall spires of bell-shaped, downward-facing flowers that make it one of the most imposing vertical elements in a garden. Their towering height—between 3 to 6 feet tall—only deepens their visual impact. Foxglove traditionally comes in purples, pinks, whites, and yellows, often with beautiful speckled throats.

Growing Habit: Upright biennial or perennial, blooming the second year from seed. (Note: Foxglove is highly poisonous if ingested.)

Best Used In: The back of borders, woodland gardens, and cottage garden settings, providing spectacular height.

5. Mullein (Verbascum)

Mullein (or ‘Verbascum’) is known for its extremely tall, straight central spike lined with saucer-shaped, open flowers. These can be quite imposing, with flowering spikes reaching 5 to 7 feet, and are very effective at drawing the eye upward. Mullein tends to come in clear yellows, whites, purples, and sometimes bi-colours, adding an easy colour variety to any garden.

Growing Habit: Upright biennial or perennial; highly drought-tolerant and thrives in poor, sunny soil.

Best Used In: Dry gardens, sunny borders, and Mediterranean-style landscapes where vertical accents are needed in difficult growing conditions.

6. Delphinium

Delphinium offers the most stunning, dense vertical spikes of blooms, providing a majestic vertical accent similar to a snapdragon but with more intricate, open flowers. It’s famous for its true blues, deep purples, lavender, white, and pink, and its height varies from 1 to 6 feet, depending on the cultivar.

Growing Habit: Upright perennial that requires staking in windy conditions. Prefers cool summers.

Best Used In: Traditional English cottage-style gardens and the back of perennial borders, providing exceptional drama and height.

7. Angelonia (Summer Snapdragon)

Visually, Angelonia (or ‘Summer Snapdragon’) has one of the closest resemblance to true snapdragons due to its distinctly two-lipped flowers clustered along the stem. Coming in vibrant pinks, purples, whites, and bi-colours, it’s a great alternative for sunnier climates. Angelonia typically grows between 1 to 2 feet tall.

Growing Habit: Upright, bushy annual (in most climates) that is incredibly heat-tolerant and reliable; it can even be grown in Singapore.

Best Used In: Containers, window boxes, and annual beds where season-long colour is desired, especially in hot, humid climates.

8. Lupine

Lupine has become a popular flower on its own in recent years but its resemblance to the snapdragon is undeniable. The pea-like flowers are clustered into thick, majestic candle-like spikes, offering a dense vertical column of colour. It’s famous for its incredible bi-colours, often featuring combinations of blue/yellow, pink/purple, and white/blue, and its wide range of sizes between 1 to 4 feet tall.

Growing Habit: Upright perennial that forms large clumps and thrives in cool, mild conditions.

Best Used In: Cottage gardens, perennial beds, and areas with well-drained, slightly acidic soil.

9. Gladiolus (Spiked floral form similar in silhouette)

Though the Gladiolus’s individual flower shape is different (trumpet-shaped), the overall silhouette of a cluster of blossoms is that of a strong, singular vertical spike lined with large, impactful blooms—making it a strong contender for snapdragon alternatives. Gladiolus comes in almost every colour imaginable, including exotic bi-colors and deeply saturated hues, and can be very tall reaching up to 5 feet.

Growing Habit: Upright summer-blooming corm (bulb-like) that needs staking.

Best Used In: As an annual accent plant in borders or grown specifically in rows for cutting (they are the ultimate florist flower for height).

How to Choose Flowers Similar to Snapdragons for Your Garden

When selecting your snapdragon look-alikes, consider these factors:

• Sunlight and Climate Considerations: If you live in a hot, humid climate, prioritise Angelonia and Penstemon. For cooler climates or areas that experience frost, choose Delphinium, Lupine, and Stock.
• Height and Bloom Season: For the tallest accents, choose Foxglove and Delphinium. For continuous, season-long colour in mid-height, Angelonia and Penstemon are reliable choices.
• Colour Matching: The vast colour range of Penstemon and Gladiolus makes them easy to blend into established borders, while the soft pastels of Stock are perfect for a classic cottage garden feel.
• Pollinators: If attracting wildlife or pollinators is a goal, Foxglove, Penstemon, and Lupine are fantastic choices as their tubular flowers are specifically designed to attract hummingbirds and large bees.

Frequently Asked Questions

What flower is most similar to snapdragons?

The flower most botanically and visually similar to snapdragons is Angelonia (Summer Snapdragon). It has a nearly identical flower structure and growth habit, but it thrives in the heat where the true snapdragon struggles.

Are there heat-tolerant alternatives to snapdragons?

Yes, the best heat-tolerant alternatives are Angelonia (Summer Snapdragon) and many varieties of Penstemon (Beardtongue), which handle high temperatures and humidity much better than the cool-loving Antirrhinum.

Do snapdragon look-alike flowers attract pollinators?

Absolutely. Many of these tubular, spiked flowers—particularly Penstemon, Foxglove, and Lupine—are excellent at attracting bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.

Can these alternatives grow in containers?

Yes, many alternatives are excellent for containers. Angelonia, Linaria, and the more compact varieties of Penstemon and Stock all thrive in pots, providing continuous vertical interest.

Which snapdragon alternatives bloom the longest?

Angelonia is generally the winner, blooming non-stop from planting until the first frost with virtually no maintenance. Penstemon also offers a very long bloom period if deadheaded regularly.

Are snapdragon-like flowers safe for pets?

While the snapdragon itself is generally considered non-toxic, Foxglove (Digitalis) is highly toxic if ingested by humans or pets. Always research the specific plant you are adding to your garden if you have pets or small children.