A snapdragon is a colorful garden flower with an unusual trick: when you gently squeeze the sides of each bloom, it opens and closes like a tiny dragon's mouth snapping shut. The flower gets its name from this distinctive shape, which resembles a dragon's head with jaws that can open and close.

Snapdragons grow on tall stalks covered with these tubular flowers, stacked one above another in shades of pink, red, yellow, white, or purple. They're popular in gardens because they bloom for months and attract bees and hummingbirds. The flowers have a sweet scent and make excellent cut flowers for bouquets.

Gardeners often plant snapdragons in early spring or fall since they prefer cooler weather. In mild climates, they can bloom through winter. Children have played with snapdragon flowers for centuries, making the little “dragon mouths” open and close.

If you visit a garden center in spring, you'll likely spot these cheerful flowers standing upright in their pots, their dragon-faced blooms ready to snap.