Antirrhinum majus
Snapdragon, Antirrhinum majus, is native to Mediterranean Europe. Its widespread identify comes from the pinchable blossoms that open and shut just like the mouths of pleasant dragons.
It’s a cool-weather plant that grows as a young perennial in USDA Hardiness Zones 7 to 10, and as an annual in different temperate areas.
A. majus is the “kind species,” or benchmark plant, within the Antirrhinum genus. There are roughly 20 species within the genus, together with some from North America and northern Africa.
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The Antirrhinum genus a member of the Plantaginaceae, or plantain, household, which is a sub-group of the expansive Scrophulariaceae, or figwort, household of vegetation, a few of which you will already know.
One is toadflax, Linaria vulgaris, aka butter and eggs, a standard sight alongside nation roads. It, too, has flowers with a hinged-style “mouth.”
Different members of this huge plant group have stationary mouths, like summer time snapdragon (A. angustifolia), beardtongue (Penstemon spp.), wishbone flower (T. fournieri), and foxglove (Digitalis purpurea).
Traditional traits of figwort members of the family are their squarish stems, and upright spikes of open-lipped blossoms.
On this information, you’ll discover all you could know to develop snapdragon, A. majus, in your backyard.
Let’s get began!
Snapdragon thrives within the cool, late spring to early summer time portion of the rising season. As soon as temperatures hit round 80°F, it loses vigor.
Fast Look
Widespread identify(s): Snapdragon
Plant kind: Annual, tender flowering perennial
Hardiness (USDA Zone): 7-10
Native to: Mediterranean Europe
Bloom time: Spring to frost
Publicity: Full solar
Soil kind: Organically wealthy, nicely draining
Soil pH: 6.2-7.0, barely acidic to impartial
Time to maturity: 80-100 days
Spacing: 6-12 inches
Planting depth: Floor sow (seeds)
Mature measurement: 6-12 inches huge x 8-36 inches excessive, relying on selection
Water Wants: Reasonable
Taxonomy
Order: Lamiales
Household: Plantaginaceae
Genus: Antirrhinum
Species: Majus
Cultivars: Varied
Within the backyard, snapdragon has a lot to supply. There are three sizes from which to decide on:
Dwarf
Intermediate
Tall
Dwarf varieties vary in top from eight to 12 inches, intermediates from 13 to 24 inches, and tall from 25 to 36 inches.
Mature widths vary from six to 12 inches.
And the colours!
Because of intensive hybridization by plant breeders, an array of disease-resistant varieties can be found in hues together with orange, peach, pink, purple, pink, white, and yellow. There are additionally many thrilling bicolor and tricolor mixtures. The one shade you received’t discover is true blue.
Lean extra about snapdragon varieties and classifications.
A. majus has a clumping development behavior, upright squarish stems, and lance-shaped inexperienced leaves.
Flower buds alongside the stems open sequentially from the underside as much as the terminal ideas.
A. majus thrives finest in a full solar location, with organically-rich, loamy, well-draining soil.
Deadheading the spent flower stems, in addition to slicing stems for vase use, prolongs blooming in cool areas.
In hotter areas, a midseason cutback to 6 inches or so might encourage vegetation to re-foliate and produce a second, late-season bloom.
After blooming, flowers set seed. These of cultivated varieties might or might not be viable, and should not more likely to replicate the traits or high quality of dad or mum vegetation.
The botanical identify Antirrhinum majus comes from the Greek. “Anti” means like, and “rhis” means snout. It’s an apt description of a “bilabiate,” two-lipped, flower that resembles a dragon’s mouth.
Historical Greeks and Romans believed the flowers have been endowed with mystical powers of safety, prowess, and wonder.
Early People held them in comparable regard. Victorians planted them of their cottage gardens, and by the center of the twentieth century, snapdragons had develop into a extensively hybridized backyard staple. They continue to be so in the present day.
Propagation
To develop A. majus, you could begin with disease-resistant seed or nursery vegetation that you’ve bought from a good purveyor, or you possibly can propagate them from stem cuttings.
From Seed
In Zones 7 to 10, the place snapdragon is a young perennial, you possibly can pre-seed within the fall for spring blooms.
Alternatively, you possibly can sow seeds instantly within the spring. Count on maturity in 80 to 100 days.
To sow seeds outdoor:
Select a location that receives full solar. Work the soil to a depth of six to eight inches, till it has a crumbly consistency. Add compost as desired.
Moisten the soil with the mild spray or mist setting in your backyard hose.
Sprinkle the seeds over the soil floor. Finally, vegetation ought to be six to 12 inches aside, however because the seeds are very tiny, simply sprinkle them as finest you possibly can, and skinny them out later. Thinning is essential, as air circulation minimizes the chance of elevating the humidity and activating fungal spores.
Don’t cowl the seeds as they want gentle to germinate. Enable them to be uncovered to the daylight.
Keep even moisture throughout germination. Some of us like to make use of gradual drip irrigation to keep away from oversaturating the soil.
When you see two units of true leaves, skinny the seedlings out to 6 to 12 inches aside, relying on the variability you might be rising. Verify your seed packet for the anticipated mature width and skinny accordingly.
When the vegetation are about 4 inches tall, pinch off the highest inch of development to advertise bushier vegetation.
In the event you stay in different temperate zones, and are rising these vegetation as annuals, begin seeds indoors eight to 10 weeks earlier than the final common frost date. Transplant them to the backyard or containers after the hazard of frost has handed.
Earlier than you begin, you’ll want to relax the seeds for 3 to 5 days within the fridge to enhance germination. Alternatively, after sowing you possibly can place the pots in a cool location of 40-47°F for 5 days.
Use biodegradable seed starter cells that may be planted of their entirety to forestall any harm to the roots throughout transplanting.
Fill the cells with moistened potting medium, then sprinkle a couple of of the very tiny seeds on prime. Press them into place, however don’t bury them, as they want gentle to germinate.
Place the cells in a sunny window or underneath develop lights. The perfect room temperature replicates the perfect outside temperature, and is within the 60° to 79°F vary. Warming mats should not beneficial, as it is a cool-weather plant.
Mist the potting medium frequently to keep up even moisture, however don’t oversaturate.
Seeds usually sprout in a single to 2 weeks.
When the seedlings have one set of true leaves, skinny them to 1 sturdy seedling per cell.
At the moment, you possibly can apply a liquid houseplant meals at half energy.
When seedlings are about 4 inches tall, you possibly can pinch the highest inch of the stem off. This prevents leggy development and produces fuller, multi-branched flower stems.
Proceed to maintain the potting medium moist, however by no means soggy.
After the hazard of frost has handed, transplant the seedlings to the backyard as described beneath.
Learn extra about rising from seed right here.
From Cuttings
To begin new vegetation from present ones, you possibly can take a slicing from the rising tip of a mature plant. It is a difficult methodology
Lower a three- to four-inch part of stem slightly below a pair of leaves. Snip off the decrease leaves to reveal about an inch of naked stem, and dip the reduce finish into powdered rooting hormone.
Place the slicing in a sterile potting medium in a location with a temperature of 65-75°F. Backside warmth is just not beneficial.
Maintain the potting medium moist, however not waterlogged.
Some of us prefer to cowl the plant with plastic to imitate a greenhouse, however as these vegetation are liable to fungal development, I don’t suggest this.
New development is proof of profitable root formation and will take two to 3 weeks.
Transplant the rooted slicing to the backyard, holding it on the similar depth it’s within the starter container.
Get extra particulars on propagating snapdragons from cuttings right here.
From Seedlings/Transplanting
Nursery vegetation vary from seedlings to vegetation which might be budding or in bloom. They’re accessible within the spring and are able to transplant instantly.
Seedlings began indoors ought to be hardened off steadily, by inserting them outdoor for an rising period of time over the course of every week to 10 days.
Right here’s find out how to plant them:
Work the soil to a depth of six to eight inches and amend with compost. Dig a gap the identical measurement because the container the plant is presently rising in.
Rigorously take away the seedling or nursery begin from the pot, and place the basis ball within the gap the identical depth because it was in its present container.
If you’re utilizing biodegradable starter cells, plant total cells in order that the highest of the medium is even with the bottom soil.
Keep one inch of supplemental water per week within the absence of rain.
Learn how to Develop
Snapdragons aren’t fussy, however they do have preferences that make the distinction between a mediocre floral show and one which makes passersby cease of their tracks.
Let’s dig into what they want for vibrant, long-lasting blooms.
Mild
Snapdragons thrive in full solar, ideally receiving not less than six hours of direct daylight every day. In cooler climates, they admire all of the solar they’ll get.
In the event you’re in a scorching area, gentle afternoon shade might help prolong the bloom time and scale back stress. Inadequate daylight can result in leggy vegetation with fewer flowers.
Soil
These cheerful bloomers desire wealthy, loamy, well-draining soil. A barely acidic to impartial pH between 6.2 and seven.0 is good.
Conduct a soil check via your native agricultural extension to find out the composition of the earth in your backyard. The perfect kind for snapdragons has a barely acidic to impartial pH of 6.2 to 7.0.
The addition of compost is an effective way to complement the soil, enhance drainage, and contribute acidity.
Temperature and Humidity
Snapdragons are cool-season vegetation. They carry out finest when daytime temperatures are between 60 and 75°F, with cooler nights.
They will tolerate gentle frost and can typically bloom via late spring into early summer time earlier than the warmth shuts them down. In gentle climates, they could even overwinter and bloom once more in early spring.
Excessive humidity isn’t sometimes an issue, however it might enhance the chance of fungal illness, so guarantee good air circulation.
Water
Present an inch of water per week, within the absence of rain. Undecided how a lot rain you might be receiving? You should utilize a rain gauge.
Water on the soil stage, and don’t oversaturate, to maintain the leaves dry and fungus-free.
Fertilizer
While you see flower buds, it’s time to fertilize.
Sprinkle a well-balanced (10-10-10), slow-release granular product round, however not touching the vegetation. Water flippantly instantly after utility.
Container Rising
No matter the way you begin a plant, you might have the choice of rising it within the backyard or in a container.
For container development, select a pot with ample drainage holes.
The diameter should accommodate the mature dimensions of the dwarf, intermediate, or tall vegetation that you’re rising, plus an additional inch for the spout of a watering can or hose nozzle.
As a result of the roots of A. majus are on the shallow aspect, a pot with a depth of 12 to 18 inches ought to accommodate the tallest varieties.
Upkeep
Snapdragons don’t require quite a lot of upkeep.
As talked about, pinching the rising ideas promotes bushy development, deadheading spent flower stems encourages additional blooming, and a midseason cutback to a top of about six inches will stimulate a second bloom.
In the event you stay in a cool zone, and your flowers bloom as soon as after which peter out, reduce them down to 6 inches, feed them with a well-balanced, slow-release granular fertilizer, comparable to 10-10-10 (NPK) and they need to perk up.
Different methods to assist your vegetation carry out nicely embrace weeding the backyard frequently to attenuate competitors for water and scale back the breeding floor for bugs and pathogens.
It’s also possible to apply a two-inch layer of mulch to scale back weed development, in addition to to maintain the bottom cool and help in moisture retention.
When making use of fertilizer, you’ll want to place it close to, however not on vegetation to keep away from burning them.
The identical goes for mulch. Maintain it a couple of inches away from plant stems to advertise air circulation and inhibit fungal growth.
At season’s finish, take away wilted foliage to forestall the wintering over of pests and pathogens.
In temperate climates, accumulate seeds within the fall to plant and develop new flowers the following 12 months.
Since these flowers are tender perennials relatively than annuals, it’s additionally potential to overwinter them with sufficient safety.
Cultivars to Choose
Snapdragon hybrids can be found in an array of vibrant, velvety colours as seeds or nursery vegetation.
People who say “rust-resistant” are your finest bets, as they’ve been bred to face as much as one of many largest threats to this species, Puccinia antirrhini, a fungus that causes rust-spotted leaves.
Brighton Rock
‘Brighton Rock’ is an thrilling heirloom selection that pollinators love. Take pleasure in a mix of pastel and bicolored blooms, in shades of pink and orange on 36-inch flower stems.
‘Brighton Rock’
You could find seeds in quite a lot of bundle sizes accessible from Eden Brothers.
Magic Carpet
For an additional stunning choice, attempt the ‘Magic Carpet’ combine, in shades of pink, pink, apricot, and yellow. This dwarf selection will attain about eight inches in top.
‘Magic Carpet’ Combine
You could find ‘Magic Carpet’ combine seeds accessible from Eden Brothers.
Rocket
The Rocket collection of hybrid annual snapdragon seeds is obtainable in bronze, cherry, golden, lemon, pink, pink, rose, white, or a blended batch.
Rocket Collection in Rose
Vegetation develop to mature heights of 30 to 36 inches tall.
You could find seeds in quite a lot of bundle sizes accessible at True Leaf Market.
Snowflake
In the event you’re a fan of white flowers, ‘Snowflake’ is the cultivar for you, with snowy white blossoms on stems that can attain about 36 inches in top, so they’re excellent for slicing.
‘Snowflake’
You could find seeds accessible at Eden Brothers.
Managing Pests and Illness
Even with the very best of care, generally snapdragons fall sufferer to pests and illness.
Some bugs to be looking out for are:
Deal with vegetation with natural neem oil for sap-sucking aphids, leaf miners, and mites.
For cutworms, attempt hand-picking them, bodily boundaries round vegetation, or an utility of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt).
As for illness, along with rust, brought on by Puccinia antirrhini fungi, there are quite a few situations which will current themselves within the presence of overly moist situations, together with:
Damping off is a fungal illness that causes seedlings to flop over and die. There isn’t a remedy.
For the opposite illnesses, there are fungicides and nematicides accessible for therapy.
Nevertheless, extreme an infection might require eradicating vegetation from the backyard and rotating to a brand new location for future plantings.
Do your finest to keep away from hassle with preventative measures comparable to holding foliage dry, not oversaturating the soil, and sustaining ample spacing between vegetation to permit for airflow.
On the upside, hungry herbivores like deer often have little curiosity in snapdragons.
Greatest Makes use of
Snapdragon provides a rainbow of shade to the panorama and attracts a bunch of pollinators like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, which might be in a position to deftly negotiate its tubular blossoms.
Dwarf varieties are excellent for containers, window bins, and the fronts of beds and borders.
Intermediate sized vegetation fill the center area, between again of mattress anchors and low-profile entrance specimens.
Use the tallest cultivars as anchors behind center and entrance flora, the place their daring hues and vertical stems floor the association and draw the attention upward.
Within the cottage backyard, A. majus performs nicely with marigolds, petunias, and roses in quite a lot of shades.
And it’s proper at dwelling within the slicing backyard with cosmos, candy William, and zinnias, flowers that additionally are available a surprising array of single and multi-color blooms.
From old-time heirlooms to the most recent hybrids, nice curb enchantment to fabulous flower preparations, snapdragon makes a daring, structural assertion wherever it goes!
Daring and Structural
Snapdragon, A. Majus, provides vibrant shade, velvety texture, and robust, vertical strains to the backyard. It stands out prominently and attracts the attention pleasingly via blended groupings.
It’s not exhausting to develop if you cater to its wants by:
Getting a jump-start in scorching summer time areas, to permit for blooming through the cool climate it craves.
Avoiding oversaturation to inhibit illnesses that thrive on moisture.
Deadheading to advertise optimum blooming, and slicing again midseason in all areas, to invigorate vegetation and stimulate a late-season bloom.
Whereas the beautiful cultivars are contemporary in your thoughts, it’s time to get out that ever-ready backyard planner and make room for snapdragon on this 12 months’s panorama.
Are you rising snapdragons? Be at liberty to share any cultivation questions you’ll have with us within the feedback part beneath!
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© Ask the Consultants, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. See our TOS for extra particulars. Initially printed July twenty ninth, 2018. Final up to date: Could sixth, 2025. Product images through Eden Brothers and True Leaf Market. Uncredited images: Shutterstock.
