The Antirrhinum majus is commonly named snapdragon and belongs to the Plantaginaceae family. The name comes from the Greek where ‘anti’ means like and ‘rhis’ means nose or snout. This refers to the appearance of the flower which looks like a dragon’s snout.

This (see photos) is a cultivar. This snapdragon produces seeds and the seedlings will appear the next year.

This is actually a perennial and in very mild winters it will not die. The bloom of the old plant is much less abundant the second year.

It is always a surprise which colours you will get from the seedlings. I have bought red Antirrhinum majus and the next year I got orange, yellow, pink and red ones in return. If you do not do anything seedlings will arise near the old plant around the end of May. If you want to decide where the seedlings will grow you can collect the seeds and throw them on de ground where you want them to reappear. The seeds are ripe for collection if the top of the seed sleeve is open.

You can start the seeds indoors in February. After the last frost you can plant them in the garden.

The height of the Antirrhinum majus can vary. This depends on the amount of sun. The fewer hours of sun the smaller the plant and the fewer the amount of flowers.

The snapdragon likes well-nourished and well-drained soil, preferably a bit sandy and chalky soil. The Antirrhinum majus likes warmth and is drought tolerant. The snapdragon has a taproot that runs reasonably far into the ground. Because of this deep root this plant is pretty drought tolerant.

If you deadhead the spent flowers it will prolong bloom because it will not put its energy into making seeds.

 

 

Attracts bees: yes

Characteristic: annual

Exposure: sun/part shade

Flower colour: various

Flowering time: June – October

Foliage colour: green

Fragrant flower: no

Hardiness: -5 ºC/ 23 ºF

Height: 20 inches/ 50 cm

Soil: normal/dry