Snapdragon
Antirrhinum majus
Family Plantaginaceae
Snapdragons run on pansy logic — glory in spring, a summer nap, then a fall encore that shrugs off several hard frosts — spires of velvet in colors from eight-inch dwarfs to three-foot cutting types. And the jaws still snap; no child has ever resisted them.
As cut flowers the tall classes are florist-grade, straight from a sunny bed, and bees push into the closed blooms like it's a job. Cool-season color when little else performs, kid-approved always. Slip a row among the pansies and own both ends of the season.
Full Sun
Moderate water
Moderate growth
Attracts bees
From the print shop
Growing snapdragon? Hang it.
Our Plant Library collection carries snapdragon — Antirrhinum majus, print Nº 437, “Snapdragon.”
526 designsfrom $12.99white or black backgroundmatte poster, unframed
Will it fruit where you are?
Enter your ZIP — we look up your USDA hardiness zone (2023 map) and check it against what snapdragon actually needs.
Life cycleTender perennial, grown as an annualSnapdragon · Common problems
Common snapdragon problems
Pests
2 problems on file
Diseases
3 problems on file
Snapdragon · Growing & propagation
Growing snapdragon
- Light
- Full Sun
- Water
- Moderate
Soil- Rich, well-drained · pH 6.2 - 7.0
Fertilizer- Every 3-4 weeks
Pruning- None
Pinch seedlings at 4 leaves for branching; shear by half in July heat — they roar back for a fall show that laughs at frost.
Spacing- 6-10 in
Snapdragon · Seasonal care & spray guidance
The snapdragon growing playbook
When to spray snapdragon
Growing season. Rust-resistant varieties; water at the base.
Snapdragon · Calculators & field guides
A little help in the garden.
Snapdragon · Yearly calendar
The snapdragon year, month by month
Jan
No calendar activity is listed for this month.
BloomBloomMarch to May, July, then September to November
What each band means
- Bloom — flowers open — pollinators working, frost on blossoms is the danger.
These are the species' typical months — expect them a few weeks earlier in warm zones and later in cold ones. Watch the plant, not just the calendar.
Snapdragon · Ecology & uses
Ecology & uses
Antirrhinum majus
Snapdragon in the garden system
- Herbaceous layer annual
- Hosts Common buckeye butterfly
Attracts- Bees
- Moisture
- Facultative / average
Deer- Browsed
Protect young plants
Origin- Introduced
What snapdragon is grown for
✓ Commonly eaten
Use- Cut flowers
- Use
- Cool-season color
- Use
- Kids
Edibility, identification, and traditional-use notes here are general reference — not medical or veterinary advice, and not a claim that any plant treats or prevents anything. Medicinal ratings record how strongly a plant features in herbal tradition, nothing more. Never eat or dose a plant you have not positively identified. More on how to use this library.
Snapdragon · Varieties & cultivars
Choosing a snapdragon variety
'Rocket' (cutting, 3 ft); 'Sonnet' (bedding); 'Madame Butterfly' (azalea-flowered)
Sources & plant identity
Know what you’re growing.
See where the knowledge comes from.
Snapdragon
Antirrhinum majus
The plant, at a glance.
- Botanical name
- Antirrhinum majus
- Plant family
- Plantaginaceae
- Growth habit
- Annual · Tender Perennial
- Origin
- Introduced
- USDA plant symbol
- ANMA3
- Invasive risk
- Low
Hardiness, size and timing vary with your cultivar, soil and climate.
Rooted in research.
University extension research, brought together with hands-on growing experience at Story Thyme Farms.
Questions
Snapdragon questions, answered straight.
Is snapdragon safe for kids and pets?
Snapdragon is commonly eaten and isn't considered toxic, but "commonly eaten" isn't a guarantee for any particular person or animal — allergies, quantity, and which part you eat all matter. Never eat a plant you haven't positively identified, and check with a vet before letting pets or livestock graze anything new.
Elsewhere
Where snapdragon sits in the library.
Sunflower
Zinnia
Peony
Daylily