Sierra Snapdragon belongs to a group of New World snapdragons recently separated from Antirrhinum, and it carries that familiar architecture: tall, erect, hairy stems, narrow alternating leaves, and racemes of two-lipped flowers that bloom in showy rosy pink along the upper stems in spring. It is native to the Central Coast Ranges, Transverse Ranges, and Sierra Nevada foothills, where it appears most readily in disturbed or recently burned ground.

Zones 8 through 10 suit it, in full sun and the driest, sharpest-draining soil available. Rocky, sandy, clay, and loamy soils all work provided water moves through quickly. Hummingbirds, butterflies, moths, and bees find the flowers worth visiting, and deer leave it alone. Germination from seed is poor, so surface-sow without covering. Aphids and thrips are occasional visitors, and powdery mildew can appear in humid conditions. Salt sensitivity limits its usefulness in coastal sites where spray is heavy.