Description

The yellow bush snapdragon is native to the mountains of southern California, Mexico and the Southwest. It grows in an upright rounded form to about six feet with small, lance-shaped leaves on reddish gray branches. The flowers of mid-spring show its close relationship to the penstemon. The abundant lemon-yellow flowers are tubular and gaping. After several weeks of blooms, the yellow bush snapdragon begins to fade into its summer dormancy during which it will lose its leaves until the next winter rains. Summer water may keep the shrub somewhat green. In San Jose, I have planted this shrub in naturalized beds (no supplemental water) among other shrubs where its spring bloom may be appreciated and its dormancy does not detract. The fine branches simply disappear among its evergreen neighbors.