Latin Name:
Common Name:
Snapdragon, Dog's/ Lion's/Toad's MouthOverview:
The Latin name, Antirrhinum, means "like a snout" and refers to the seed pod's resemblance to a calf's nose. How do such charming flowers wind up with such ungracious names?
Description:
Leaves:
Flowers: The flowers come in just about every shade, except true blue. Some are vibrant bold tones, some are soft pastels and some are subtly shaded bi-colors. Caution: All parts of snapdragon are poisonous, if ingested.
Hardiness Zones:
Exposure:
Full sun to Partial Shade.Mature Size:
Bloom Period:
Can repeat bloom throughout the season, but does its best in the cool of spring and fall and throughout the winter, in mild climates.Suggested Varieties:
- Antirrhinum majus Arrow™ Formula Mix - Vivid colors on strong, branching stems. Grows 2' tall.
- Antirrhinum majus La Bella Mix
- - A nice blend of colors from pale to bronze to deeply saturated. Grows 12 - 18" tall.
Antirrhinum majus Rocket Mix - a dependable multi-colored series that grows to about 2 - 3' tall.
Design Suggestions:
Their spiky, bright colored flower stakes make a nice foil for the cooler shades of most spring flowers, like Brunnera and Bleeding Heart. Planted in clusters, they can help a border transition from the spring ephemerals to peak heat season.
The pale yellow varieties are the easiest to blend into a mixed border and work nicely with pinks, purples and even reds.
Breeders have been playing with snapdragons for a few years now and there are trailing and creeping varieties becoming more widely available. These are great filler plants for containers, baskets and tucked into walls.
Growing Tips:
Soil: Snapdragons like a neutral soil pH, between 6.2 and 7.0.
Planting:
Snapdragons can be winter sown, meaning you can toss the seeds out in late fall or even on top of snow, and most will germinate in the spring.
However snapdragons are most often either started indoors, 8 - 10 weeks before the last frost date, grown from cuttings or purchased as seedlings. When starting from seed, simply press the seed on the surface of the potting soil. Snapdragon seeds need light to germinate.
When seedlings have developed about 6 true leaves, pinch the top of the stem off, to encourage branching and a fuller plant. You can do this with purchased seedlings too.
Transplant snapdragons outdoors a couple of weeks before your last frost date. Snapdragons can handle a light frost or two.
Maintenance:
Regular deadheading will keep your snapdragons blooming longer. Snapdragons are tender perennials and may die off in colder climates. If they do survive the winter, prune them back by about 1/3, to encourage new growth. Don't be too disappointed if they don't last long. Snapdragons tend to go downhill after their first year and it's best to start fresh every year. Many varieties will self-seed and come back on their own, although they won't always look like the original plants you planted.Some of the taller varieties will need staking.
