🐉 Snapdragon
Antirrhinum majus
Dragon-shaped flowers that only perform in the cool months.
Sun
Full sun to part shade
Days to harvest
Blooms ~3–4 months from seed; transplants faster
Spacing
6–12 inches apart
Soil pH
6.0–7.0
How to grow
In Florida, snapdragons are a fall-planted, winter-blooming annual — set out transplants in October or November for months of flowers. They need light to germinate, so surface-sow seeds. Pinch young plants to force branching and more flower spikes.
Water & feeding
Keep evenly moist; they wilt dramatically but recover fast — drama queens, not actually dying.
Common problems
- Rust (orange pustules) in humid weather — choose resistant varieties
- Aphids love the tender tips; spray off with water
- Melts outright in Florida summer heat — it's an annual here, accept it
Harvest
Cut the central spike to force side shoots; deadhead regularly for continuous bloom. Great cut flower — recut stems underwater.
Nerdy fact: Squeeze the sides of a snapdragon flower and the dragon's jaws open — only strong bees can pry them apart, which keeps weak pollinators from stealing nectar without doing the work.