October's Flower: Snapdragon While snapdragons were common in the earliest gardens, their actual origin is not known. Some botanists believe this unique flower originally grew wild in Spain and Italy. The botanical name for the snapdragon — antirrhinum — is derived from the Greek anti(like) and rhin(nose), in reference to the flower's snout-like shape. In the British countryside, young children once made "pets" out of the snapdragon flower. A child would gently squeeze the sides of the flower to open and close the "dragon's" mouth, complete with a lashing tongue. According to legend, if you're holding a snapdragon, you'll be protected from deceit and curses.