Antirrhinum majus (Snapdragon)
Snapdragon
Blooming for months, Snapdragons (Antirrhinum Majus) are eye-catching bedding plants loved for their large, snout-shaped flowers atop their bright green foliage. Fragrant, the Snapdragon flowers come in a wide array of attractive shades, from pastel to bright colors including pink, orange, yellow, peach, purple, white, red, and bicolor. They can be classic looking with two puffed petals that look like stacked berets, or azalea-flowered (fringed or ruffled).
- Old garden favorites, Snapdragons enjoy a long blooming season, extending from spring to fall in cool summer areas, and provide a delightful and colorful show.
- Snapdragons are short-lived perennial plants that can withstand short periods of frost, but they are generally grown as annuals. They often overwinter in protected areas up to zone 5.
![]() Snapdragon & Pot Marigold |
![]() Snapdragon & Floss Flower |
- Snapdragons come in various heights and are classified into 4 groups:
Dwarf plants (4-9 in. tall or 10-22 cm) - Bushy plants that are ideal for border fronts, edgings, window boxes, and containers
Short plants (9-12 in. tall or 22-30 cm) - Great for edging or small beds
Intermediate plants (12-24 in. tall or 30-60 cm) - Most popular group
Tall plants (24-36 in. tall or 60-90 cm) - for bold display or fresh bouquets.
![]() Snapdragon 'Admiral Crimson' |
![]() Snapdragon 'Admiral White' |
![]() Snapdragon 'Admiral Pink Bicolor' |
- Extremely easy to grow, they love full sun or light shade in well-draining soils. Avoid overhead watering. Some drought tolerance.
- Snapdragons make excellent cut flowers and are wonderful when massed in beds, borders, containers, window boxes, and cutting gardens. The shorter varieties are great edging plants.
- Susceptible to rust, mold, fungal leaf spots, and downy mildew. Always choose rust-resistant varieties!
![]() Snapdragon 'Calima Pure White' |
![]() Snapdragon 'Calima Yellow' |
![]() Snapdragon 'Calima Pink' |
- Snapdragons attract butterflies, bees, and other pollinators and beneficial insects but they appear to be deer resistant.
- Easy to grow from seeds. Sow seeds indoors 8 weeks before the last frost and transplant the seedlings outdoors as soon as the soil can be worked.
- Pinch off the stem tips to promote bushiness on young plants (3 in. tall or 7 cm). Deadhead spent flowers to encourage new blooms and maintain a neat appearance. Do not hesitate to cut flowers for your bouquets as this will force your snapdragon to produce additional stems for bloom. Cut back hard and fertilize if you notice little flowering after the first flush of bloom.
![]() Snapdragon 'Speedy Sonnet Bronze' |
![]() Snapdragon Speedy Sonnet Rose' |
- The most popular Antirrhinum varieties are:
‘Liberty’ Series produces 24-30 in. tall plants (60-75 cm) in nine different flower colors.
'Rocket Series’ produces 36 in. tall plants (90 cm) with upright flower spikes in shades of red, pink, yellow, purple, and white. Good for cut flowers.
Sonnet’ Series produces 24-30 in. tall plants (60-75 cm) with flowers in eight different shades. Great for the landscape, containers, or as cut flowers.
Azalea-flowering varieties include:
Bright Butterflies Mix’ produces 30 in. tall plants (70 cm) with 10-12 flower spikes per plant. Flowers in shades of yellow, red, pink, purple, and white.
Madame Butterfly Mix’ produces 24 in. tall plants with double azalea-type flowers in shades of red, pink, yellow, purple, and white.
Snapadragon 'Candy Showers' (Antirrhinum majus nanum pendula) is a new series of trailing Snapdragons that are perfect for hanging baskets or containers in the spring or fall. They will also quickly spread in beds and borders for colorful coverage. Up to 10 in. tall (25 cm), they are available in purple, orange, red, rose, or yellow.
![]() Snapdragon 'Candy Showers Orange' |
Snapdragon 'Candy Showers Yellow' |
![]() Snapdragon 'Candy Showers Rose' |
- Antirrhinum belongs to a genus of 20 species that are native to Southern Europe. Antirrhinum majus is the most widely grown species in our gardens as summer bedding plantings. Many of the smaller species are used in rock gardens while the taller ones may be grown in the dry garden.
Buy Antirrhinum majus (Snapdragon)
Requirements
Hardiness | 5
– 10 |
---|---|
Heat Zones | 1
– 11 |
Climate Zones | 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, A1, A2, A3, H1, H2 |
Plant Type | Annuals, Perennials |
Exposure | Full Sun |
Season of Interest |
Spring (Late) Summer (Early,Mid,Late) Fall |
Height | 6" – 3' (15cm – 90cm) |
Spread | 6" – 10" (15cm – 25cm) |
Spacing | 6" – 10" (15cm – 25cm) |
Water Needs | Average |
Maintenance | Low |
Soil Type | Chalk, Loam, Sand |
Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Well-Drained |
Characteristics | Cut Flowers, Fragrant, Showy |
Tolerance | Deer, Drought |
Attracts | Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds |
Garden Uses | Beds and Borders, Edging, Hanging Baskets, Patio and Containers |
Garden Styles | City and Courtyard, Informal and Cottage |
*Pictures are courtesy of Botanik Foto, Sakata Ornamentals, 123rf
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.
Requirements
Hardiness | 5
– 10 |
---|---|
Heat Zones | 1
– 11 |
Climate Zones | 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, A1, A2, A3, H1, H2 |
Plant Type | Annuals, Perennials |
Exposure | Full Sun |
Season of Interest |
Spring (Late) Summer (Early,Mid,Late) Fall |
Height | 6" – 3' (15cm – 90cm) |
Spread | 6" – 10" (15cm – 25cm) |
Spacing | 6" – 10" (15cm – 25cm) |
Water Needs | Average |
Maintenance | Low |
Soil Type | Chalk, Loam, Sand |
Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Well-Drained |
Characteristics | Cut Flowers, Fragrant, Showy |
Tolerance | Deer, Drought |
Attracts | Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds |
Garden Uses | Beds and Borders, Edging, Hanging Baskets, Patio and Containers |
Garden Styles | City and Courtyard, Informal and Cottage |