Common Snapdragon Antirrhinum majus
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- an-tih-RYE-num MAY-jus
- Description
-
A well-known garden favorite. Genus name comes from the Greek words anti meaning like and rhis meaning a nose or snout in allusion to the appearance of the flower which looks like a dragon's snout.
Short-lived tender perennial, grown as annual. Moist, rich, well-drained soil in full to part sun. Avoid overhead watering. Low drought tolerance, languishes in the summer heat. Many color combinations, good in mass plantings; both tall and shorter cultivars available. Makes a good container plant and cut flower. Erect to straggling herb. Tall plants may need to be staked.
The flowers are edible, but bitter, so are best used as a garnish.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Significant susceptibility to rust; also susceptible to mold, fungal leaf spots, downy mildew, wilt and root rots.
Quick ID Hints:
- Flowers large, corolla zygomorphic, two-lipped
- Corolla tube -lower surface strongly invaginated into throar
- Leaves crowded, narrow & elongated
Blooms early summer to fall. Utilized for massing, borders (tall erect se;ections), edging *sprawling, dwarf selections), cut flowers. Bee polinated, which land on lower lobe & force open the two lips to crawl in & reach nectare.
Perennial in wild (SW Europe, Meditteranean area), treated her in cultivation as a bedding plant. Has pest/disease problems, especially fungal.
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Retaining Wall Garden Pitt County Arboretum Containers
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Bicolor'
- 'Floral Showers Apricot Bicolor'
- 'Kim'
- 'Kim Orange'
- 'Kim Primrose Yellow'
- 'Kim Purple and White'
- 'Kim White'
- 'Montego O'
- 'Bicolor'
- 'Bicolor', 'Floral Showers Apricot Bicolor', 'Kim', 'Kim Orange', 'Kim Primrose Yellow', 'Kim Purple and White', 'Kim White', 'Montego O'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Bicolor'
- 'Floral Showers Apricot Bicolor'
- 'Kim'
- 'Kim Orange'
- 'Kim Primrose Yellow'
- 'Kim Purple and White'
- 'Kim White'
- 'Montego O'
- 'Bicolor'
- 'Bicolor', 'Floral Showers Apricot Bicolor', 'Kim', 'Kim Orange', 'Kim Primrose Yellow', 'Kim Purple and White', 'Kim White', 'Montego O'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Antirrhinum
- Species:
- majus
- Family:
- Plantaginaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southwestern Europe
- Wildlife Value:
- Attracts hummingbirds and butterflies.
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- This plant is seldom damaged by deer.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 0 ft. 10 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Perennial
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- A capsule, half hidden by calyx lobes, short-beaked.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Good Cut
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Lipped
- Flower Petals:
- fused petals
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Come in many colors depending on cultivar, two-lipped dragon head flowers appear on terminal racemes. of various colors of anthocyanin & carotenoid pigments. Calyx 5-lobed, persistent in fruit. Corolla zygomorphic, throat closed off by lower lip.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Linear
- Oblanceolate
- Oblong
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- 3" long glossy, dark green, lance-shaped. Opposite to alternate above, linear to lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate, glabrous.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Edible Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
