Antirrhinum. nanum
Black Prince
© Thompson & Morgan

Antirrhinum. nanum
Double Sweetheart Mixed F1
© Thompson & Morgan

Form: Shrubby, compact perennial plants that dislike winter wet
Height: 8in (20cm)
Spread: 18in (45cm)
Foliage:
Flowers:

Antirrhinum. majus

Form: An erect perennial that branches from the base. Cultivars are grown as annuals, and are grouped according to size and flower type: -

Tall:                   2-3ft (60cm-1m)
Intermediate: 12-18in (30-45cm)
Dwarf:               8-12in (20-30cm)

Regular:            Tubular-shaped (hyacinth-like) flowers
Penstemon:     Trumpet-shaped
Double:
Irregular:          Tubular-shaped flowers

All have lanceolate leaves 

Description: A flower in an entirely new form. Its large completely double, azalea-shaped blooms provide a riot of colour and its reliability and impressiveness are borne out by rare award of an All-America and All-Britain Selections Bronze Medal. Ideal for borders, bedding and superb cut flowers. 

Antirrhinum 'Candy Snap' is a striking beautifully variegated Snapdragon which will be available in UK garden centres from 2003.

Originating at Delamores, a UK wholesale young plant nursery it was launched to the trade at the Four Oaks Show in September 2002.

Pink flowered with pale green and white edged foliage it does well in containers and in the open ground and seems very resistant to rust and flowers profusely during summer. When dead-headed it will flower for many months.

Variegated Antirrhinum's (snapdragons) are a real novelty. Four or five years ago a pillar-box red cultivar named Antirrhinum 'Powys Pride' was featured in PLANTS Issue 3.

Originally found by Hilary Passant a member of The Hardy Plant Society Variegated Plant Group in the UK.

There's also a white cultivar named after the Chairman of the VPG, and variegated plant expert, Mr Stephen Taffler named 'Taff's White'.

The Snowflake series produce upright bushy plants ideally suited for containers on the patio or in the yard.

 The foliage on all three displays a lovely cream variegation giving a pink tint.

Description: Trailing. A breeding triumph: cascading Antirrhinums! In a mixture of seven colours, including pure colours and bicolours, the “Snapdragon” flowers are borne on self branching, vigorous plants. Ideally made for hanging baskets, containers and window boxes.

Sowing Instructions: Sow January to March. Germinate at 20-30C (68-86F) on the surface of a good free draining, damp seed compost. Do not cover the seed. Place in a propagator or seal container inside a polythene bag until after germination which usually takes 10-21 days. Do not exclude light, as this helps germination.

Form: Very small, creeping perennials that need protection, and resent cold and wet conditions.
Height: 6-8in (15-20cm)
Spread: 8-12in (20-30cm)
Foliage:
Flowers:

Cultivation: -

Evergreen Perennial
The colourful, fat tubular flowers of the Antirrhinum, with their snapping 'dragon mouths', have long held a fascination for small children. The very style of the flower giving rise to its common name Snapdragon. Many individual blooms are borne at the end of the flower spike from spring through to autumn (fall). Ruffled cultivars as well as the original single form Snapdragon are now on offer. Dwarf, medium and tall varieties are also available with the taller plants requiring shelter from strong winds. The green foliage is soft and lance-shaped.

The Snapdragon requires a sunny spot in rich, neutral to alkaline, moist but well-drained soil. Acidic soils can be prepared before planting with the addition of lime or dolomite. Position the plants where they will receive the benefit of breezes, which will help to prevent the fungal disease botrytis. Although generally planted as seedlings, Snapdragons can be propagated from seed. As the seed is extremely fine and requires light to germinate it is sown directly onto the soil surface. Young Snapdragon plants can be tip pruned to encourage branching which in turn provides a plentiful supply of flowers.

Propagation: -

Sowing Instructions: Sow January to March. Germinate at 68-86^oF (20-30^oC) on the surface of a good free draining, damp seed compost. Do not cover the seed. Place in a propagator or seal container inside a polythene bag until after germination which usually takes 10-21 days. Do not exclude light, as this helps germination.

Growing Instructions: Transplant seedlings when large enough to handle into trays or 3in (7.5cm) pots. Grow on in cooler conditions for 10-15 days before planting out after all risk of frost, 9-12in (23-30cm) apart.

Aftercare Instructions: Remove spent flowers regularly to encourage further blooming.

Fully Hardy to Half Hardy

Pests & Diseases: -  

Rust can be a serious problem with Antirrhinum. majus, however, Rust resistant cultivars are available.

Add to the list of suspects that attack snapdragons: -

Scutigerella immaculata (Garden centipede). This organism is known to infect seedlings and feeds on roots. Older plants may not be damaged.

Butterflies feeding on snapdragons:

Hyles lineata (Striped Hawk-moth, Bedstraw Hawk-moth, Linienschärmer).
Stenoptilodes taprobanes
Pyrrhia umbra (Bordered Sallow)
Xestia baja (Dotted Clay)

A variety of different insects pollinate Snapdragons, and use a variety of differing techniques to do so. Snapdragons are usually pollinated by Bumble Bees. Honey Bees are not able to open up the mouth of the flower. Bumble Bees penetrate the flower tube from the side, avoiding the energy draining need to open the flower. This hole may then be used by others like Honey Bees to collect the nectar. This of course does nothing to ensure the pollination of the flower. Syrphid flies and other smaller insect can benefit from some flower mutatations with impaired morphology of the petals.