How to Grow Snapdragon

About Growing Snapdragon Plants in Your Home Flower Garden

Annual Snapdragon plants are native to the Mediterranean. But, we are sure glad someone brought them over here! They are a favorite flower for cutting and for their fragrance. Strong-stemmed spikes are tightly packed with large “dragons” in a wide range of colors and shades. Long-lasting Snapdragon flowers are so profuse, that they can hide the leaves at peak bloom. And, growing Snapdragons is a joy, as their blooms begin in late spring and continue all the way to the first Fall frost.

Snapdragon plants are an easy to grow annual. Most varieties are early summer bloomers. Plants often wilt in the mid-summer heat but should perk back up and bloom again in cooler fall weather.

Snapdragons are excellent in beds, edgings, and containers. Try them in rock gardens or window gardens too. They are popular cut flowers for bouquets and vases.

Snapdragons attract hummingbirds.

Flowers Bloom: Late Spring to Fall

Flower Colors: There are a wide variety of colors, including bronze, crimson, orange, peach, pink, red, purple, violet, white, and yellow

Plant Height: Smaller varieties- 6″; larger varieties 24″ – 30″

Plant Hardiness Zones: 5 – 7

Other Names: Yarrow, Bloodwart, Carpenter’s Weed, Common Yarrow, Devil’s Nettle, Nose Bleed, Steenchgrass

Annual

Annual Snapdragon Plant Propagation

SnapDagon plants are grown from tiny seeds. Snapdragon seeds take up to three weeks or more to germinate. This is the only difficult thing about Snapdragons and causes many a gardener to get seedlings at their nearest garden store. But if you are up to the challenge, try germinating them yourself indoors about 6-8 weeks before the last frost in your area.

Note: For indoor starts, we recommend using a heated germination mat, to increase the speed of germination. And, it, results in a higher germination rate.

Final Plant Spacing: Space plants 6 to 36 inches apart, depending upon variety. Space larger plant varieties at 36 inches apart.

Days to Germination: Seeds sprout in 10 – 21 days.

About Seed Germination

How to Grow Snapdragon Flower Plants

Snapdragon plants grow best in full sun. They will grow well in average soil. Soil should be well-draining.

Add a general-purpose fertilizer before planting if the soil is poor.

Plant Snap Dragons outdoors after the last frost for your area. Fertilize once a month. Flowers will bloom in June. After the flowers have died off, cut the plant back to about six inches. Then add some general-purpose fertilizer. This will promote new growth and a second bloom.

Snapdragons are very hardy. They can withstand a heavy frost. So, if your plant is still blooming in the fall, do not be too quick to clean up the flower garden.

Ideal Soil pH: 5.5 – 7.0.

Also, see:

Plant Problems – Identify the causes and find the cures, too.

Insects and Plant Disease

Insect and disease problems are not too common. If insect or disease problems occur, treat early with organic or chemical insect repellents and fungicide.