Snapdragon

Sun

Full sun; light afternoon shade helps in hot climates.

Water

Moderate; water when the soil surface begins to dry, keeping young plants evenly moist but never waterlogged.

Soil

Fertile, well-drained soil, preferably neutral to slightly alkaline; improve heavy soil drainage before planting.

Height

0.5-3 ft (0.15-0.9 m), depending on cultivar

Spread

0.5-1.5 ft (0.15-0.45 m)

Flowers

Spring to autumn in cool climates, often pausing in summer heat; autumn to spring in mild-winter climates. Flowers may be white, yellow, orange, pink, red, purple or bicoloured.

Foliage

Narrow, lance-shaped green leaves on upright, branching stems; leaves may persist through mild winters.

Growth

Fast

Care needed

Medium

• Water at soil level when the surface begins to dry; avoid repeatedly wetting the leaves.
• Mix compost into the planting area and apply a balanced fertiliser at planting; feed container plants regularly according to the product label.
• Space plants about 0.5-1 ft (0.15-0.3 m) apart, allowing more room for broad cultivars.
• Stake tall varieties early in exposed positions.
• Apply a thin mulch to conserve moisture, keeping it clear of the stems.

Pruning. Pinch out the growing tips of young plants to encourage branching, unless you want long, single stems for cutting. Remove spent flower spikes above a leafy shoot; after the first flush, lightly shorten tired stems to encourage another flush when temperatures suit.

Late winter

In cold-winter climates, surface-sow seed indoors about 8-10 weeks before the last frost; provide light and do not bury it.

Spring

Harden off young plants and plant out once severe frosts have passed; pinch tips for bushier growth.

Late spring

Stake tall plants before flower spikes become heavy.

Summer

Water during dry spells and remove fading spikes; expect flowering to slow in strong heat.

Autumn

In mild-winter regions, sow or plant for cool-season flowers; elsewhere, collect ripe seed if wanted.

Late autumn

Remove frost-killed or diseased plants. Leave healthy plants outdoors only where winters and drainage allow them to survive.

• Plant tall varieties among roses and other cottage-border plants for upright flower spikes between rounded blooms.
• Use dwarf varieties along paths or at the front of beds for a low band of colour.
• Combine compact varieties with pansies and sweet alyssum in cool-season containers.
• Grow tall varieties in cutting beds, where regular harvesting encourages more flowering.

Garden styles it suits: Cottage garden, English country, Traditional, Romantic rose garden, Potager (kitchen garden) and Pollinator garden.

Plant it with: Roses, Pansies, Sweet alyssum, Calendula, Sweet peas and Dianthus.

Wildlife: Bumblebees can push open the flowers to reach nectar and pollen. Single-flowered forms are generally more accessible than heavily doubled forms.

• Snapdragon rust causes yellow leaf spots and brown powdery pustules beneath leaves: remove affected growth, improve airflow and avoid overhead watering; discard badly infected plants.
• Aphids cluster on soft shoots and buds: rinse them off with water or use insecticidal soap according to the label, avoiding open flowers.
• Root and crown rot develop in wet soil: improve drainage, avoid overwatering and remove collapsing plants.
• Hot weather can stop flowering: maintain steady moisture, provide afternoon shade where practical and wait for cooler weather rather than overfeeding.

Not known to be toxic to cats, dogs, horses or people; no part is recognised as poisonous. Eating substantial amounts of any garden plant may cause stomach upset, and ornamental flowers may carry pesticide residues.

• Summer snapdragon (Angelonia angustifolia)

  Has smaller, more open flowers that do not form the hinged dragon-mouth shape; it flowers best in heat rather than cool weather.

• Yellow toadflax (Linaria vulgaris)

  Has slender leaves and smaller yellow flowers with a conspicuous long spur behind each bloom; true snapdragons lack that long spur.

• Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea)

  Has large, broad leaves and hanging tubular bells, often spotted inside, rather than hinged, two-lipped flowers. Foxglove is highly poisonous.

Antirrhinum comes from Greek words referring to a snout-like shape, majus means larger, and snapdragon describes the flower's mouth-like action when gently squeezed.

Propagation. Grow from seed surface-sown onto moist seed compost; light helps germination. Seedlings from named cultivars may differ from their parents. Softwood cuttings taken in spring or early summer can preserve a particular plant.

Accepted botanical name

Antirrhinum majus

In the US and Canada

Introduced in Canada and the lower 48 states.

Native range

France and Spain.

Measured

Soil pH 7 to 7.5. Average height 70 cm.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.