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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:
Lake Wall Garden Containers at Pitt County Arboretum
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Bicolor'
  • 'Floral Showers Apricot Bicolor'
  • 'Kim'
  • 'Kim Orange'
  • 'Kim Primrose Yellow'
  • 'Kim Purple and White'
  • 'Kim White'
  • 'Montego O'
'Bicolor', 'Floral Showers Apricot Bicolor', 'Kim', 'Kim Orange', 'Kim Primrose Yellow', 'Kim Purple and White', 'Kim White', 'Montego O'
Tags:
#hummingbird friendly#showy flowers#full sun tolerant#lavender#white flowers#pink flowers#fall interest#mass planting#moist soil#summer flowers#deer resistant#border planting#cutting garden#spring interest#fantz#butterfly friendly#partial shade tolerant#non-toxic for horses#non-toxic for dogs#non-toxic for cats#container plant#annual#wildlife friendly
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Bicolor'
  • 'Floral Showers Apricot Bicolor'
  • 'Kim'
  • 'Kim Orange'
  • 'Kim Primrose Yellow'
  • 'Kim Purple and White'
  • 'Kim White'
  • 'Montego O'
'Bicolor', 'Floral Showers Apricot Bicolor', 'Kim', 'Kim Orange', 'Kim Primrose Yellow', 'Kim Purple and White', 'Kim White', 'Montego O'
Tags:
#hummingbird friendly#showy flowers#full sun tolerant#lavender#white flowers#pink flowers#fall interest#mass planting#moist soil#summer flowers#deer resistant#border planting#cutting garden#spring interest#fantz#butterfly friendly#partial shade tolerant#non-toxic for horses#non-toxic for dogs#non-toxic for cats#container plant#annual#wildlife friendly
  • 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.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Annual
    Perennial
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Medium
  • 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
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
    Fruit Length:
    1-3 inches
    Fruit Description:
    A capsule, half hidden by calyx lobes, short-beaked.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Container
    Landscape Theme:
    Butterfly Garden
    Edible Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Mass Planting
    Attracts:
    Butterflies
    Hummingbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer