Snapdragons are a popular flower for the cutting garden.
Snapdragons were thought to have supernatural powers in ancient times. They were also thought to offer protection from witchcraft and to restore beauty and youthfulness to women.
I wonder if there’s a connection.
Snapdragons are native to the Mediterranean region and are found growing today in Roman ruins in southern France, Malta and Italy.
Antirrhinum majus is their Latin name. It comes from the Greek “anti,” which means “like” and “rhin,” which means nose, obviously referring to the snout-like flowers.
Start snapdragons from seed 6 to 8 weeks before your average last frost. Sprinkle seeds on the surface of a seed starting medium like vermiculite. Do not cover, but lightly press the seeds into the medium.
Water from below by setting pots into a larger container that has a few inches of water in it. When the surface of the seed starting medium looks damp, remove the pots from the water and allow them to drain.
Seeds can take as long as three weeks to germinate. Using bottom heat in the form of a heated seed starting mat greatly increases the germination rate and your chances of success in starting snapdragons from seed.
Snapdragons are one of the most popular bedding plants for sale at garden centers in spring. Plant your own or purchased transplants outdoors in late spring, around the time of your last frost. Space the plants about eight inches apart. Pinch back to encourage them to branch out, and they will produce more blooms.
Snapdragons love the cool temperatures of spring, during which they produce many long-lasting flowers. Once daytime highs are consistently above 80 degrees, flower production falls off. Cut the plants back to about six inches high, water well throughout summer, and they will begin blooming again in the cool weather of fall.
Cut off faded blossoms to encourage the plant to produce more flowers. They will continue to produce until killed by a hard frost.
For use in bouquets, cut snapdragons when the flower buds are fully formed and the first blossoms at the base are open. The remaining buds on the stem will open one at a time.
Snapdragons come in all colors except blue and green. They last a long time as a cut flower and have a sweet, subtle scent that is never overpowering.
And they look good in mixed bouquets.
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