Growing Guide
 
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Snapdragon (dwarf)

Annual Flower

Antirrhinum majus dwarf
Scrophulariaceae Family

Dwarf snapdragons are easy to grow from seed and are best grown in masses as bedding plants. The spikes are too short for cut flower arrangements. Flowers may be classic (having two puffed petals that look like stacked berets) or azalea-flowered (fringed or ruffled). They often overwinter in protected areas up to Zone 5, and bloom best in cool weather well into fall.

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Site Characteristics
Sunlight:
  • full sun

Soil conditions:

  • requires well-drained soil
Prefers light soil high in organic matter.

Special locations:

  • outdoor containers
Plant Traits

Lifecycle: annual

A short-lived perennial grown as an annual. First-year plants may overwinter with protection in Zones 5 to 7.

Ease-of-care: easy

Height: 0.5 to 1 feet

Spread: 0.5 to 1 feet

Bloom time:

  • mid-summer
  • late summer
  • early fall
  • mid-fall

Flower color:

  • red
  • orange
  • yellow
  • violet
  • white
  • pink

May be single-colored or bi-colored.

Foliage color: dark green

Foliage texture: medium

Shape:

  • spreading mass
  • upright

Shape in flower: flower stalks with upright spikes

The flowers are clustered on short spikes.

Special Considerations
Tolerates:
  • frost
Special characteristics:
  • deer resistant
  • non-aggressive
  • non-invasive
  • not native to North America - Mediterranean
  • fragrant
Special uses:
Growing Information
How to plant:

Propagate by seed - Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last spring frost. The seeds need light to germinate. Plants tolerate frost and grow best in cool weather, so you can transplant them outside before last frost date.

Germination temperature: 60 F to 70 F

Days to emergence: 10 to 14

Maintenance and care:
Pinch tips when plants are 2 to 4 inches tall to produce compact plants with more flowers spikes. Deadheading flowers as they wither and go to seed will encourage plants to produce more flowers later in the season.

More growing information: How to Grow Annuals

Pests:
Aphids
Beetles
Spider mites
Diseases:
Anthracnose
Powdery mildew
Rhizoctonia root and stem rot
Rust
Varieties
‘Floral Showers’ Series: 5-inch tall plants with 12 different flower colors, 4 of them bicolors. Performs well even in heat.

‘Montego’ Series: early flowering 8-inch tall plants with flowers in shades of red, white, pink, yellow and purple, as well as bicolors.

‘Magic Carpet’ Series: 6-inch tall plants are spreading and attractive.

‘Bells’ Mix produces 8-inch tall plants that have long bloom periods.

‘Little Darling’ produces 12-inch tall plants with flowers in shades of red, pink, yellow, white, and purple.

‘Sweetheart’ produces 12-inch tall plants that are wind tolerant and have flowers in shades of red, pink, white, yellow and purple.