Snapdragon (Antirrhinum Majus) Growing & Care Guide for Gardeners
Article by Dean Ravenscroft, Ph.D. - Updated 31st Jan 2024
- Plant Characteristics: Known for their distinctive flowers, which come in a range of bright colors and open and close like a dragon's mouth. These tall, slender plants add vertical interest to gardens and are excellent for cut flowers.
- Growing & Care: Prefers full sun and well-drained soil. Regular watering and deadheading will encourage more blooms. They are cool-season flowers, thriving in cooler temperatures of spring and fall.
- Tips for New Gardeners: Snapdragons are a great choice for beginners, offering easy care and a long blooming period. They can be grown from seed, allowing gardeners to experience the full lifecycle of the plant.
Antirrhinum majus, more commonly known as a snapdragon, is an incredibly popular perennial flower.
It belongs to the Plantaginaceae family, the same family as the broadleaf plantains.
Snapdragons come in a variety of colours, ranging from yellow through to violet, with many strains of this common garden flower being multi-coloured.
The Flower Fields photograph by Rob Bertholf.
Snapdragons are commonly grown due to the intense level of colour they bring to garden designs and landscapes.
Typically, they bloom in the middle of the summer, although if proper care is taken, blossoming can continue throughout the fall. How much the snapdragons bloom is usually dependent on the amount of sun they receive.
Antirrhinum majus with cream flowers, photograph by Dinesh Valke; CC.
Gardener's HQ Guide to Growing Snapdragon
Snapdragon can be successfully planted outside in late fall, although it is more common to first grow seedlings indoors at 65°F (18°C), starting 10 to 12 weeks before the last frost, and then later transplant them outdoors.
While Antirrhinum majus plants are pretty cold resistant once successfully established in outdoor soil, it is a good idea to cover them with pine straw mulch during exceptionally chilly periods. This greatly helps this flower's longevity.
Antirrhinum majus hybrid, photograph by 阿橋 HQ; CC.
Snapdragons do not require a significant level of nutrients to grow, with only a minimal amount of organic material necessary. That being said, fertilizer is recommended once the flowers start to bloom as it can greatly lengthen the blossoming period.
Perhaps the most crucial detail to keep track of when growing snapdragons is watering.
Antirrhinum majus plants, photograph by cultivar413; CC.
When a snapdragon is first growing, it is important to keep the surrounding soil constantly moist.
As the flower reaches maturity, it will require to be saturated to roughly one inch (2.5 cm) deep once per week, with a moderate period in between watering to allow the soil to dry.
Snapdragon Golden gate cultivar, image by Andrey Zharkikh; CC.
-
Seed Success: Start Strong with this Ultimate Seed Starter Kit
Elevate your gardening game today by securing your Reusable Seed Starter Tray Kit. Get this must-have for any gardening enthusiast on Amazon and give your seedlings the head start they deserve. Embark on your journey to a bountiful harvest with confidence.
-
Garden Mastery: Unleash Your Potential with the Essential Tool Set
Boost your gardening with the CHRYZTAL Gardening Tool Set. Get this essential kit on Amazon for effortless gardening. A good set of tools is key to a thriving garden; make every cut count. Cultivate with ease and watch your garden flourish.
Antirrhinum majus Growing and Care Guide
- Scientific Name: Antirrhinum majus.
- Common Name: Snapdragon.
- Growing Zone: USA: 7 to 10.
- Life Cycle / Plant Type: Annual.
Plant Details
- Plant Height (Inches): 6 to 36.
- Plant Spread (Inches): 18 to 24.
- Time of Bloom: Late spring to early autumn.
- Flower Details: Blue, Orange, Pink, Purple, Red, White, Yellow.
- Leaf Foliage: Green.
- Fruit:
- Growth Form: Upright / erect.
Ideal Growing Conditions
- Best Light Conditions: Full sunlight.
- Rate of Growth: Average pace.
- Suitable Soil Types: Acidic, Adaptable, Loamy, Neutral, Well drained.
- Soil Moisture: Dry to Moist (Medium Moisture is likely gives best results).
Caring Conditions
- Care:
- Level of Maintenance: Medium.
- Propagation: Seeds sown at 16-18C in late summer, early autumn or early spring. Overwinter young plants under glass.
- How to Prune: Deadheadto prolong the flowering display.
- Pests: May be attacked byaphids.
- Diseases: Subject to powdery mildew. Some resistance to antirrhinum rust.
Further Information
- Can Attract: Hummingbirds, Butterflies.
- Tolerant of: Deer.
- Best Garden Use: Border, Container, Foundation, En masse, Specimen, Woodland garden.
- Family: Plantaginaceae.
- Closely Related Species: Chelone, Digitalis, Veronica.
I hope that you enjoyed this guide on how to grow Antirrhinum majus,. You may also enjoy the following growing guides: How to grow Plantain and Armeria.
Elevate Your Gardening Game
Weekly Growing & Care Guides for Your Inbox!
Find the insights on this site valuable? Then you're going to love my book: 'The Gardener's HQ Plant Growing Guide'.
Upon purchase, receive the eBook in PDF, MOBI (for Kindle), and ePub (most e-readers and iPad) formats. Also available from Amazon USA, Amazon UK, and iBooks.
