Snapdragons are colorful easy to grow annual flowers that are commonly available to home gardeners. The spiky flowers are long lasting when cut and placed in vases. Typically snapdragons have slim dark leaves and come in hot colors such as red, yellow, orange and also white. This plant is native to the Mediterranean but was also once found growing wild in Italy and Spain. It is in the foxglove family.
Antirrhinum is the Latin name for the snapdragon, which means “like a nose” but to some this flower looks more like a mouth. Because of this, some also liken the flower shape to a dragon’s mouth and the snapping sound it made when the top of the flower is closed and then quickly opened.
In the language of flowers, the meaning of snapdragon is conflicting. It means both to be gracious and to be deceiving. Perhaps this is why some believe that if a man gives snapdragons to a lady, he is soon to unexpectedly propose. In ancient times people believed that snapdragons could bring back a woman’s faded beauty or protect people from the spells of witches. Germans once thought that snapdragons could protect a baby from the fear of evil spirits.
Types of Snapdragons
Snapdragons are easy to grow and adapt to many different situations. Their sturdy stems help make them good cut flowers. When cut, many snapdragons last for at least a week and sometimes a few days more. Snapdragons are excellent in beds, boarders, containers and window boxes. They also look pretty when naturalized in meadows or in large groups. They flower best at the beginning and end of summer, but may be less active in the heat of midsummer.
There are many different sizes and shapes of snapdragons that the home gardener can grow. Some varieties can be as small as one foot tall or as high as three feet tall. Floral Carpet is a commonly grown type that grows to only about seven inches in height. Rocket Mix comes in many different colors and grows two or three feet tall. Plum Blossom is a variety that grows almost four feet high and has pink and cream colored flowers. While snapdragons are known to be susceptible to rust disease, newer types are bred to be rust resistant, so look for those.
How to Grow Snapdragons
Snapdragons are not hard to grow, but the seeds are very small and slow to start. Snapdragon seeds can take up to three weeks to germinate so unless a special variety is desired home gardeners may want to purchase seedlings from a garden center. But, to start snapdragons from seed scatter them lightly on the surface of the soil and mist them gently. Start them indoors about six to eight weeks before the last expected frost date and be prepared to baby them. Keep them moist by lightly covering the pot with a plastic bag. They are ready to plant outdoors when they have at least 4 leaves, not counting the first two that emerge, which are the seed leaves. The nighttime temperature should also be at a consistent 55 degrees for outdoor planting.
Snapdragons grow best in full sun and in average soil. When the snapdragons are still a few inches tall, pinch the top inch or so off of the young plant. This will encourage the plant to become bushy as new stems sprout along the sides. Cut the snapdragons back when they finish flowering to stimulate more blossoms. If this is not done they will stop blooming and go to seed. Some snapdragons will reseed themselves in the garden if left alone. These flowers can also tolerate some frost after they have been established so plan them for fall garden.
Resources
How to Grow Snapdragon Flower Plants
Catherine Mezensky - Catherine A. Mezensky is a writer and artist living in Baltimore Maryland. Her topics include gardening, film, culture and local history. ...
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