Snapdragon flowers. Snapdragon: planting and care, growing from seeds

Antirrhinum belongs to the Norichinaceae family. In the Mediterranean, this plant is considered a perennial, but in our harsh, frosty winter latitudes it is grown as an annual.

It is rightfully in demand in gardening and floriculture, although planting and caring for this plant has some distinctive features.

Flowerbed lovers often ask questions:

Are frosts dangerous for annuals?
Is pinching important?
grow seedlings or sow in the ground?

Varieties

The stem of the pharynx branches well, creating a compact, dense bush, reaching a height of 20 to 150 centimeters. The flower is large and shaped like the open mouth of an animal, which is why they are called dogs in conversation. Bright with a pronounced aroma, they are collected in spike-shaped or racemose inflorescences. The coloring is so diverse and depends on the type of antirrhinum. The most popular are white, lilac, yellow, red flowers.

Currently, flower growers are growing about 900 different varieties, which, in turn, , are divided into one and a half dozen groups:

tall 150–160 cm in height;
tall up to 100 cm;
medium-sized up to 60–70 cm;
short, up to 40–50 cm;
dwarf up to 20–25 cm.

In tall varieties There is one main distinctive detail - the central stem of the flower rises above the side stems, creating a peduncle with large strong inflorescences.

All medium-sized varieties branch well and differ radically in flowering time. So, among them you can find early and late species of this annual.

Low growing varieties“dogs” have the shape of a ball with many stems, form miniature bushes, the size of the flowers is smaller than those of tall relatives.

All varieties are divided into several classes

They are also traditionally divided according to flowering time., like all other garden flowers:

early start of flowering, the first flowers open in May;
medium term, bloom no earlier than July;
late flowering period, flowers appear closer to August.

Planting and care

Antirrinum is a very light-loving flower, and if there is a lack of heat, it slows down its growth and seed production. Can tolerate light frosts down to -5–0 degrees.

Dogs are grown on any soil, but it has been noted that they grow better in the lungs fertile soil. When choosing a place for sowing in the front garden, look for a sunny, bright place, protected from drafts.

Growing from seeds

Antirrinum is grown as annual plant method from sowing seeds to seedlings or directly into the ground. Each of these methods has a number of advantages.

Planting seeds in the soil.

This method is suitable for gardeners living near a greenhouse, in their home or in their country house. The easier it will be to monitor sowing and seedlings. Sometimes it seems that planting directly into the ground is much easier, but whether your young animals will survive or not depends entirely on how they are cared for. Antirrinum seeds are sown in the soil in late autumn or in early spring in the beginning of April. It is not afraid of cold weather and also tolerates spring night frosts well.

The seeds are placed into the soil directly into the flowerbed and are not covered with soil. Antirrinum seeds are too small, so for even distribution over the surface it is better to mix them with sand. The bed on which the flowerbed will be located will require care; it needs to be well cleaned of grass and weeds, because it will choke the young shoots. When the first shoots appear, the flower needs care, weeding and regular, careful watering.

Grown flowers are thinned out so that the distance between them remains from 15 to 25 cm. “Dogs” grown in the ground begin to bloom much later, around July, and end early due to the threat of cold weather.

Planting Antirium seeds for seedlings

This concern begins from the first ten days of February until the beginning - mid-April. Seedlings from seedlings will bloom much earlier and already in early May they will delight you with their diversity. The process of growing seedlings Antirrinum has its own distinctive features, which it is advisable for every gardener to know and apply:

Already partially flowered seedlings are planted in the front garden. To provide lush flowering choose the most open and sunny place. Before planting seedlings, it is advisable to flavor the soil with peat and add a little sand for looseness. Leave 20–25 cm between seedlings for free growth. But depending on the type of plant, the distance may be increased.

Snapdragon Care

This flower is a rather unpretentious and unpretentious plant; all you need is weeding, protection from pests and regular watering. Be sure to watch Make sure that the flower is not flooded, as this can cause the roots to become sick and your flowerbed will die. You can control humidity if you mulch the soil with peat, sawdust or old grass.

Feeding an annual flower

Even on poor soils you can grow a beautiful and healthy plant if you fertilize it on time. It is advisable to carry out the first feeding 15–20 days after the seedlings have moved to the flowerbed. All subsequent fertilizer applications should be carried out at the same two-week intervals throughout the flowering period. For this purpose, weak solutions of bird droppings or mullein, as well as weed infusion, are suitable.

Reproduction of Antirium

For further cultivation and preserving your favorite varieties of pharynx in the flowerbed, you need to learn how to propagate it correctly. You can do this in several ways:

sowing seeds;
cuttings.

For correct collection Healthy and large individuals select seeds for further reproduction. The seeds of snapdragon are very small, and to prevent them from simply scattering on their own, the seed part of the flower is tied with a cloth and the seeds are allowed to ripen. It is better to save seeds for the future in a cool place and for no more than three years.

You need to cut snapdragons in the spring, cutting young shoots from the mother bush, which overwintered indoors, on the veranda or in winter garden. We move the rooted seedlings into the front garden by the end of May. Planting material, obtained in this way, begins to flower much earlier than its brothers, and has a prolonged flowering period.

Diseases and pests of antirium

Quite often, seedlings are affected by fungal diseases:

blackleg;
septoria;
fusarium;
rust.

To prevent diseases, all damaged bushes are sprayed with biological products, which is repeated after a few days to prevent spread.

Snapdragon is very susceptible to attacks by pests, which, in turn, eat away the buds and spoil the stems and leaves of the flower. The most common cause of damage is the cutworm. Their butterflies lay eggs on nearby weeds, and the larvae then crawl onto flowering bush and damage it. To prevent such damage Regularly weed around flowers. Eaten and spoiled plants are treated with special preparations and infusions several times. Snapdragon can bloom and delight the eye almost until October, if there is no severe frost.

Antirium in landscape design

In the design of flower beds and alpine slides They use all kinds of snapdragons. A huge variety of varieties and bright colors made it the leader among all annual beauties.

Dwarf and low-growing species The flowers fit and look good in flower beds, they are planted along borders or as colored circles and squares on the lawn. There are types of annual pharynx that can be grown on the balcony in a box or in a flower pot. Tall species of antirrhinum They are suitable mainly for bouquets and will remain in a vase for up to a half-moon and will delight you with their decorative qualities. Snapdragon flower stalks fit perfectly into many flower arrangements.

Snapdragon flowers

Snapdragon (Antirrhinum), which is also called antirrhinum, is directly related to the genus of herbaceous plants belonging to the plantain family. This genus includes approximately 50 species of perennial plants, including climbers. In the wild, these plants can be found in zones with warm climates, and most species are found in North America. In Russia, these flowers are called “dogs”, in England “snapdragon” (biting dragon), in France “cleft mouth”, and in Ukraine “mouths”. "Antirrinum" translated from Greek means "nose-like", "nose-like". IN ancient Greek myth, which tells about Hercules, or more precisely, about his first labor, talks about how he defeated the Nemean lion, whose ferocity everyone knew. In honor of the victory, the goddess Flora presented Hercules with a gift - it was a lovely flower called “snapdragon”. From that time on, the Greeks had a tradition of giving snapdragons to heroes. This plant has been cultivated for about five hundred years, and German specialists began breeding it only in the 19th century. During this time, they were able to create approximately 1 thousand varieties of snapdragon, and it is interesting that only 1 species was used to create various varieties, namely, Antirrhinum majus.

Features of snapdragon

This flower is represented by subshrubs, as well as herbaceous plants, which have straight, finely grooved shoots, they are branched and colored green color. Their height can vary from 15 to 100 centimeters. The bushes have a pyramidal shape. Above sheet plates are alternately located, and from below - opposite. Their shape can be lanceolate or oval-elongated, and the color varies from dark to pale green, with the veins colored red. The fragrant flowers are relatively large in size, they are two-lipped and have an irregular shape. There are both double flowers and simple ones (depending on the variety); they are part of spike-shaped inflorescences. Their color can be yellow, soft fawn, white, pink, red (all shades), and there are also varieties with two- and three-color flowers. The fruit is a two-locular multi-seeded capsule. 1 g contains 5–8 thousand seeds. This plant begins to bloom in July and ends after the first autumn frosts.

Often, snapdragons, which grow as a perennial in the wild, are grown by gardeners as an annual. However, if the plant is well cared for and if conditions are favorable, the frost-resistant snapdragon can survive wintering in open ground. At the same time, on next year its flowering will be more spectacular. IN garden design This flower is grown as a border flower, but it can decorate both a flower bed and a green lawn (if snapdragons are planted in groups). This plant is also used to decorate terraces and balconies. Today, ampelous varieties of this flower are becoming increasingly popular among flower growers, for which they can be grown. suspended structures, and they will also be a wonderful decoration for galleries and terraces.

Sowing

Reproduction of this plant can be produced by seeds and also vegetative way. The seeds have good germination for several years. If you live in an area with a relatively mild climate, then sowing the seeds of such a flower can be done directly into open soil. The first shoots can be seen after 2.5–3 weeks, while the seedlings are not afraid of cold snaps that occur at night. In places where spring is relatively cold, this plant is recommended to be grown through seedlings. Growing snapdragons from seeds is very easy.

Seeds are sown in the first days of March. To do this, you will need a bowl with a diameter of at least 10 centimeters, and it should have holes at the bottom for drainage. Coarse sand should be poured onto the bottom, and compost soil mixed with sand should be placed on top of it. Lightly compact and level the surface, then moisten it a little with a spray bottle and distribute snapdragon seeds mixed with sand, pour a thin layer of the same substrate on top. Water the crops using a fine spray bottle, and then cover the container with clear glass. Every day, condensation must be removed from the surface of the glass, while ventilating the seedlings and, if necessary, moistening the surface of the substrate with a sprayer. If the place where the container is located has moderate humidity and warmth (23 degrees), then the first seedlings can be seen after half a month. After the first plants appear, the container must be moved to a well-lit place, but at the same time protected from direct rays of the sun (so that the plants do not stretch out). After the snapdragon begins to emerge en masse (after 3–4 days), the shelter must be removed for good.

Seedling

At first, the plants will grow for quite a long time, and during this period it is especially important to properly moisten the soil. Watering should be done in the morning so that the plants have enough moisture, but not too much. The fact is that waterlogging can cause the development of “black leg”. If the seedling has fallen, it should be carefully removed using tweezers, and the place where it grew should be sprinkled with crushed charcoal or use calcined cold river sand. After 2 true leaves are formed, the seedlings must be picked into a box or container, and they must be placed so that they are not pressed against each other. You can also use individual pots for picking plants, or you can plant 3 seedlings at once in 1 larger pot. Then the plants should be placed in a well-lit place, but at the same time protected from direct sunlight. After this, you can begin hardening the seedlings. To do this, during the daytime you need to open the window for a while, but you should avoid drafts. When the plant has 4-5 true leaves, it will need to be pinched to increase bushiness, but if side shoots grow quite quickly, then they should also be pinched.

Planting in open ground

What time should snapdragons be planted?

Snapdragon seedlings should be planted in last days May and the first - June. At the same time, you should not be afraid of cold snaps at night, since these plants tolerate them quite calmly. These flowers can be planted both in a sunny area and in a shaded area, but it is worth considering that it must be protected from gusts of wind and also be well-drained. Suitable soil should be light and rich nutrients. The best mixture for growing such a flower is a mixture consisting of compost, sand, and peat, which are taken in equal proportions. The acidity of the soil should be pH 6–8.

How to plant

The distance between the bushes during planting depends on the variety of snapdragon. So, between dwarf varieties there should be a distance of 15 centimeters, between short-growing varieties - about 20 centimeters, between medium-growing ones - 30 centimeters, and between tall ones - from 40 to 50 centimeters. After being transplanted into open ground the bush will take root, it will grow quite quickly and become spectacular flowering plant. We must remember that seedlings must be planted in well-watered soil.

Features of care

Growing

Such a flower is undemanding in care and only needs timely watering, weeding, fertilizing, and also needs to systematically loosen the soil surface. Watering should be done only during drought, but we must remember that this procedure cannot be carried out in the evening. After watering, it will be necessary to loosen the soil surface and perform weeding; this can be done on the same day or every other day. Experts advise tying tall varieties to a support. After the flower begins to fade, it must be removed from the bush, as it takes away the strength of the plant. In order for such a plant to bloom for a long time, it should not be allowed to set seeds; also, after the last flowers wither, you need to cut off the flower shoot. It is necessary to trim the peduncle under the flower located at the very bottom, only in this case new arrows and flowers will grow. The first time you need to feed the snapdragon is after it takes root after transplanting into open soil, and for this you use nitrophoska and organic fertilizers. The plant needs to be fed a second time during budding; in this case, a nutrient solution consisting of potassium sulfate, urea and superphosphate is used, and 1 large spoon of each substance should be taken per bucket of water.

Diseases and pests

It happens that bushes are affected by rust, and red spots appear on their surface. This plant is also susceptible to infection with blackleg, root and gray rot, and septoria. Diseased plants must be destroyed as soon as possible, then the area of soil where they grew must be treated with a fungicidal (antifungal) agent. Pests that pose a danger to snapdragons include fly larvae, scale insects, caterpillars, and butterflies that are capable of laying eggs. It should be remembered that getting rid of diseases or harmful insects is much more difficult than preventing a plant from becoming infected. For the purpose of prevention, it is necessary to follow all recommendations for the care of snapdragons, so it is necessary to promptly destroy sick and infected harmful insects copies; You should not plant flowers very close to each other; it is necessary to water correctly, avoiding waterlogging of the soil; Watering should be done at the root, while ensuring that water does not fall on the surface of the leaf blades.

After flowering

The flowering of such a plant can continue until the first frost in the fall. After autumn sets in, those snapdragon bushes that are cultivated as perennials should be trimmed very short, so that the height of the shoots is about 5–8 centimeters. Then you need to mulch the area, sprinkling it with a layer of dried leaves or sawdust mixed with peat. In the case when you have an annual snapdragon, then after the flowers begin to fade, you should remove them, thereby avoiding self-seeding. After all the flowers on the arrow have withered, it needs to be trimmed as short as possible. This will prevent the seeds from ripening and scattering on the surface of the soil. After the offensive late autumn It is necessary to dig up the soil where the flowers grew, and burn the remains of the snapdragon, as harmful insects can settle on them.

How and when to collect snapdragon seeds

As a rule, most plants collect seeds only after they are fully ripe. However, snapdragon seeds must be collected in the incomplete ripeness phase. Then they are placed in a dry, well-ventilated room for ripening. You need to collect the seeds in a long paper bag (like for a baguette). You need to start collecting seeds only after the fruits located at the bottom of the peduncle have fully ripened. To do this, the top of the peduncle, on which the still green fruits are located, must be cut off and thrown away. On the part of the flower arrow that remains, you need to put a paper bag, tie it with a thread below the fruit. Then all that remains is to trim the stem below the dressing site. Then the inverted bag needs to be hung in a dry and warm place and all that remains is to wait for the ripened seeds to pour out into the bag. Ripe seeds should be poured into a small cardboard box and stored in a dry place where the air temperature will be from 3 to 5 degrees. In this case, the boxes must be protected from water.

Main types and varieties

Today, experts have several classifications of this plant according to various characteristics. The most popular classification is based on the height of the bush. Based on the size of the bush, snapdragon varieties are divided into 5 groups:

Gigantic- height of the bush is 90–130 centimeters. This plant has a centrally located stem that is much higher than the second-order stems, while there are no third-order stems. Popular varieties: “Arthur” - bush height from 90 to 95 centimeters, cherry-colored flowers; “F1 red XL” and “F1 pink XL” - the bush reaches 1.1 meters, the flowers are red and pink (respectively).
High- bush height 60–90 centimeters. They are cultivated for cutting, as well as as a vertical accent in groups or in mixborders. The central stem is much higher than the lateral ones. When cut, the flowers of this plant can last for about 7 days or even longer. The most fragrant varieties are those whose flowers are painted in various shades of yellow. Popular varieties: “Anna German” - the flowers are light pink; "Canary" - deep yellow flowers; a mixture of Madama Butterfly varieties - double flowers can be painted in a variety of color shades.
Medium height (semi-tall)- a bush with a height of 40 to 60 centimeters. The varieties are universal; they are cultivated both for cutting and as a decoration for flower beds. They are distinguished by their strong branching. The central stem is not much higher in height than the lateral ones. Popular varieties: “Golden Monarch” - has a yellow color; "Ruby" - deep pink flowers; “Lipstick silver” - painted whitish-pink.
Low- height of the bush is 25–40 centimeters. They are cultivated as border or flower bed plants. These varieties have a large number of flowering stems of the second and third orders, with the central stem having the same height as the first order stems or slightly lower than them. Popular varieties: “Tip-top”, “Hobbit”, hanging hybrid plant"Lampion".
Dwarf- the height of the bush varies from 15 to 20 centimeters. The varieties are intended for carpet flower beds, ridges, borders, rock gardens. They are also grown as a potted flower. There is strong branching up to the third and fourth order stems, while the central stem is lower or has the same height as the second order stems. Popular varieties: “Sakura Color” - there is a spot on the whitish-pink flowers; "Candy Showers" is a hanging variety.

There is also the very popular Sanderson and Martin snapdragon classification for year-round cut varieties. However, this classification is of interest only to those gardeners who grow snapdragons for sale.

Antirrinum or snapdragon is a perennial, annual or semi-shrub herbaceous ornamental flowering plant, native to the warm countries of the Mediterranean. In nature, the flower also grows in North America and Europe. The snapdragon plant is also very popular among gardeners. And this is understandable, because the amazing colors of the buds, fancy shapes flowers and long flowering can decorate any area of the garden throughout the season.

Snapdragon – description, photo

What does a snapdragon look like? The antirrhinum flower is distinguished by green, straight, finely grooved, large stems, the height of which can be from 15 to 100 cm. The plant has opposite lower leaves and oval or lanceolate elongated upper leaves. By the beginning of summer, racemose inflorescences with numerous large, two-lipped flowers form on the stem. They have irregular shape and can be simple or terry. The color of the flowers can be pink, red, dark brown, orange, yellow, white. There are varieties with flowers painted in two or three colors at once. Snapdragon blooms from the beginning of summer until the onset of autumn frosts.

In nature, the snapdragon flower is a perennial, however, in regions with cold winters the plant is grown as an annual. At favorable conditions And good care Antirrinum can be grown in the garden as perennial.

Growing snapdragons from seeds

Sowing seeds in open ground

In regions with warm climates, antirrinum can be grown as a perennial by planting the seeds directly in the flowerbed. Sowing takes place in early spring or mid to late April. It all depends on the weather in your area. Shoots will appear in about three weeks and can survive even a slight cold snap.

Seeds are planted in a nesting manner on a bed prepared in advance and sprinkled thin layer soil, watered from a watering can with a shower attachment and covered with film. The crops are ventilated daily, and the soil is moistened as necessary. As soon as the seedlings appear, the film is removed on warm days. It is better to leave the shelter at night.

Slightly grown seedlings will need to be thinned out, removing the weakest plants. In order not to damage the roots of closely growing bushes, it is better not to pull out unnecessary seedlings, but to pinch them off. When caring for them, watering should be regular, but not frequent. Seedlings are sensitive to soil moisture, and if it is over-moistened, young plants may develop blackleg disease. It is recommended to water in the early morning.

Growing antirrinum (snapdragon) seedlings

With the seedling method of growing annuals, seeds should be sown in early March. For this purpose, seedling containers are prepared with drainage holes. You can fill them out soil mixture from the store or prepare it yourself from compost soil and sand.

Sowing procedure:

Features of caring for snapdragon seedlings

The air temperature for seedling growth should be +20…+23 degrees. They are moistened in a timely manner, and after two true leaves appear, they are planted disposable cups or other containers. You can use spacious pots by planting three bushes in them at once.

When transplanting seedlings, you can use a special spatula or a simple fork, with which the plants are taken out along with a lump of earth and carefully placed in a pot filled with earth. Antirrinums do not tolerate transplantation well, so everything must be done so as not to damage the roots. The planted plants are carefully watered.

Grow pruned seedlings in a well-lit place, otherwise, with a lack of light, the stems will begin to stretch. When watering the bushes, you should keep in mind that snapdragons do not like waterlogged soil. Constantly wet soil can lead to rotting of the roots and the appearance of a disease such as “blackleg”. However, you cannot overdry the soil.

To stimulate the growth of side shoots of seedlings 10 cm high, pinch the top. At this time they should have 4 or 5 true leaves. After this procedure, the snapdragon will turn into a beautiful, lush bush. If the regrown side shoots begin to grow too actively, they can also be pinched.

About two to three weeks before planting antirrinum in open ground, the seedlings begin to harden. On warm days it is placed in the garden or on open balcony. On the first day, plants are hardened for one hour. Every day the time spent by seedlings in the fresh air increases. In the last days before planting, the seedlings should be outside for 24 hours.

Planting snapdragons in open ground

For the antirrinum, a sunny or slightly shaded area is selected, which should be protected from strong winds.

When to plant snapdragons?

Hardened and grown seedlings can be planted in a flower bed in the garden at the end of May or beginning of June. The weather should be warm, however, the plants can survive small, short-term night frosts.

How to plant snapdragons?

The soil for antirrinum should be well-drained, nutritious and light. It is best if it consists of compost, sand and peat (1:1:1).

For each bush, a separate planting hole is made, the distance between which depends on the height of the plant:

Dwarf antirrinums are planted in a flowerbed at a distance of 15 cm from each other.
There should be a gap of 20 cm between low-growing specimens.
Tall snapdragon bushes are planted at a distance of 40 or 50 cm from each other. Immediately during planting, it is recommended to install supports near the tall specimens, to which the grown plants will need to be tied.

After planting, the seedlings must be watered.

Snapdragon - care

Snapdragon belongs to unpretentious plants, which do not require much attention during the season. The bushes will bloom magnificently and for a long time if you follow simple recommendations for caring for them:

In dry and hot weather, plants require watering. This should be done early in the morning. It is not recommended to water snapdragons at night. If it rains, there is no need to water the flowers.
After rain or watering, it is recommended to remove weeds and loosen the soil around the plantings approximately once a week. This procedure will prevent the formation of a crust on the soil, and air will flow to the roots of the plants.
After about two weeks, when the seedlings take root and begin to grow, they are fed with universal fertilizers for flowering plants.
During budding, it is recommended to feed the bushes with a solution prepared from a mixture of potassium sulfate, urea and superphosphate. To prepare it, take a tablespoon of each fertilizer. The mixture is diluted in 10 liters of water.
Wilted flowers should be removed regularly so that new buds form more quickly.
After flowering, fruits begin to form and ripen on the peduncle. If you do not need the seeds, then cut off the faded peduncle under the lowest flower. In this case, after some time, new arrows will appear on the bush and begin to grow, which will soon bloom.
In regions with not very cold winters, where snapdragon is grown as a perennial plant, in the fall, with the onset of cold days, you need to cut off the plant's stem. The remainder of the stem should have a height of 5 to 8 cm. After this, the bushes are covered with dry leaves or peat mixed with sawdust.

Pests and diseases of snapdragon

By following all the rules for caring for antirrinum, the plants will not be afraid of any diseases or pests. TO preventive measures relate:

Moderate moisture of the area.
Planting bushes at a distance from each other from 15 to 50 cm (it all depends on the variety of snapdragon).
Specimens affected by pests and diseases must be removed immediately.
You should water the bushes only at the roots so that water does not get on the leaves.

If pests have settled on the plants, the bushes are treated with insecticidal preparations. Among the pests that are dangerous for snapdragons are egg-laying caterpillars and butterflies, fly larvae, and scale insects.

Among the diseases, a flower can be affected by gray or root rot, blackleg and septoria. All these diseases cannot be cured and they quickly spread to other plants. Therefore, diseased bushes are pulled out and burned. The soil on which they grew must be shed with fungicidal antifungal drugs.

Blooming profusely beautiful plant Antirrinum (snapdragon) will decorate the garden with its bright or delicate flowers until late autumn. Its low-growing varieties can be planted in a box or flowerpot and decorated with a balcony or loggia.

Snapdragon (antirrhinum) - often found on garden plots ornamental plant. They often decorate flower beds in city parks and boulevards. These flowers are popularly known as “dogs”. The popularity of the plant among summer residents is also explained by the fact that caring for it is not particularly difficult.

Snapdragon

Snapdragon: growing from seeds, when to plant

Peculiarities

Antirrhinum is herbaceous plant, whose straight stems grow up to 1 m in height. Elongated leaves can be either light or dark in color. Flowers have pleasant aroma, in shape they resemble an open lion's mouth. This is the secret of such an unusual name. Smooth or double flowers growing at the top of the stem are collected in an inflorescence in the form of a spike.

Snapdragon flower

On a note! The flower is grown on balconies and loggias. On the street it is planted both in flower beds and in hanging structures.

Gorgeous flower bed with antirrinums

A riot of colors of multi-colored snapdragons in a hanging planter

There are white, pink, red and yellow flowers. Flowering continues throughout the summer and ends in the fall with the onset of frost. The plant is perennial, but is usually replanted every year. Snapdragon blooms in the year of planting. At the same time, the seed pod ripens.

Antirrinum varieties

Snapdragon large

These plants, depending on the variety, can be either very small or very tall. According to this principle, snapdragons are divided into the following groups.

Dwarf, maximum 20 cm in length. They decorate borders and flower beds. These antirrinums are grown in pots as indoor plants. Among them there are such varieties as “Sakura Color” and “Candy Showers F1”.
Snapdragon Candy Showers F1 Orange
short, growing from 25 to 40 cm. They can also be found in borders and flower beds. These include the varieties “Tip-top”, “Lampion”, “Hobbit”.
Snapdragon ampelous “Lampion”
Average, stretching up to 40–60 cm. Used for landscape design or creating bouquets. The most common are pink “Ruby”, yellow “Golden Monarch” and pale pink “Lipstick Silver”.
Snapdragon (Antirrinum) Golden Monarch
High, up to 60–90 cm long. They make wonderful fragrant bouquets or original flower beds. A cut flower can stand in water for more than a week. The best ones: terry varieties“Madame Butterfly F1”, yellow “Canary”, pink “Anna Herman”.
Snapdragon F1 “Madama Butterfly”
Giants, reaching 1.3 m. These are varieties such as cherry “Arthur F1” and others.

Tulips and snapdragons in one flower bed

Breeding methods

Antirrinum is usually propagated using seedlings. Tall varieties will bloom later than their low-growing counterparts. This must be taken into account when sowing.

Snapdragon seedlings

On a note! Plant seeds can also be sown directly into open ground. This applies only to low varieties of snapdragon. The right time for sowing is the first ten days of May. Flowering should be expected later than for plants planted by seedlings.

If you do not destroy faded antirrinums, then it is likely that, having survived the winter, their seeds will germinate in thawed soil. Such plants produce strong, lushly flowering bushes.

Vibrant variety of snapdragons

When to plant seeds for seedlings

The time for sowing seeds depends on the climatic conditions of the region and the plant variety. Tall antirrinums are sown in the third ten days of February. Low- and medium-growing - during March. Sowing dwarf varieties allowed to be produced until April 15.

Snapdragon seeds photo

IN northern regions Snapdragons can only be grown by seedlings. The plant is planted in open ground later due to the fact that cold weather is likely to return throughout almost the entire spring. This must also be taken into account when planting seeds for seedlings. It will not be possible to grow antirrinum as a perennial plant in cold climates.

On a note! Sufficiently developed plants are transplanted into flower beds only in late spring or early summer. During this period, the flowers will not suffer from lower temperatures at night.

Sowing seeds for seedlings step by step

Table. Instructions for growing snapdragons in seedlings.

	For antirrinum seedlings, a universal soil mixture is suitable, which can be purchased at a specialized store. So that the small seeds of the plant can hatch, the soil is sifted and washed sand is mixed into it. The mixture can also be prepared from soil, peat and sand, mixing them in a ratio of 1: 2: 0.5. To protect seedlings from diseases and weeds, it is recommended to steam the soil mixture using a steamer. Steaming for 1 hour will protect the plant from blackleg. In order to make the soil slightly alkaline, after steaming it is necessary to add half a tablespoon of dolomite flour or 1 tablespoon of ash per 0.5 kg of soil. The soil mixture needs to be slightly moistened.
	Fill the container with the soil mixture, level the surface and tamp it down quite a bit. Place the seeds on the fold of a piece of paper and carefully spread over the entire surface. Sprinkle soil on top with a layer of no more than 1 cm.
	Spray with water from a spray bottle upper layer soil. In this case, some seeds may float to the surface. This is not a problem, since they need more light to germinate.
	Cover the container with a transparent lid or plastic bag. Then install it in a lighted place. For seedlings to emerge, it is necessary to maintain a room temperature of +21-24°C. The soil must be periodically irrigated with water, otherwise the seeds will dry out and not germinate.
	In about a week, the shoots will begin to hatch. After emergence, it is recommended to maintain a temperature of +16+29°C. At first, the seedlings grow at a slow pace. At this time, it is especially important not to allow excess water. Watering should be done so that moisture does not fall on the leaves. Frequent ventilation is required. The container lid must be removed after 7 days. Immediately after this, the plants must be protected from direct sunlight.
	If the seedlings are too dense, thin them out using tweezers.
	Picking is done after the first two true leaves grow. Snapdragon is not afraid of this procedure. In the new place he will feel good almost immediately. The same soil mixture is suitable, but without preliminary sifting and steam treatment. Fill cups or pots with soil and lightly compact the soil. Then you need to make holes so that there is enough space for the roots. Deepen the sprout by 3 mm and sprinkle with soil. Lightly compact the soil, otherwise the sprout may tilt when wet.
	After picking, the seedlings must be carefully watered. In this case, it is advisable to hold the sprouts until the moisture is completely absorbed.
	It is recommended to apply liquid fertilizer to the soil once every 14 days. Grown seedlings can be pinched between the fourth and fifth pairs of leaves to improve growth and further lush flowering.
	In the second decade of May, you can plan to transfer the seedlings to open ground. Snapdragons require a well-lit place. In shady areas, antirrinum will not bloom so profusely. If the seedlings have been hardened, then they are not afraid of even slight frosts. Land for good growth plants should be loose. Fertile, slightly alkaline soil is suitable (otherwise the roots will not be developed enough). Heavy soil must be diluted with sand, dolomite flour or ash. Before planting seedlings, you should add mineral fertilizing, including phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen.
	Holes for planting must be dug at a distance of up to 45 cm from each other, depending on the height of the future plant. The specified distance between plants must be maintained if a tall variety is planted. For medium-sized antirrinums, this interval is 30 cm. And plants of small varieties of snapdragons will get along well at a distance of 20 cm between them.
	Planting must be completed with generous watering, after which it is necessary to cover the soil with a layer of peat.

Snapdragon in composition with other flowers

Arrangement using snapdragon flowers

Video - How best to sow snapdragons

Plant care

No further care of the plant is required great effort. It needs to be weeded periodically, and the antirrinum also needs frequent loosening of the soil. During the period of active growth, the crop should be fed with a complex mineral fertilizers. It is undesirable to allow both waterlogging of the soil and lack of moisture. Watering should be done moderately. Wilted inflorescences must be removed in a timely manner.

Antirrhinum (snapdragon). Types and timing of work during cultivation

Snapdragon - cultivation and care

Diseases of the snapdragon

If root system seedlings were exposed to excess moisture, the antirrinum may develop root rot. This can completely ruin the seedlings. You can cope with the problem with the help of a drug called “Hom”. A teaspoon of the product is diluted with 1 liter of water and the seedlings are treated. Repeated treatment is carried out after transferring the plants to open ground. To do this, take 1 liter of solution per 10 m2 of flower bed. The procedure must be done before flowering.

Diseases and pests of antirrinum

Cool, damp summers provide suitable conditions for rust development. Red spots quickly spread on the foliage, leading to the death of the flower. It is recommended to combat this disease with the help of special fungicides (Cumulus, Strobi, Abiga-Pik, Polyram) and one percent Bordeaux mixture. Products containing sulfur are effective. Plants affected by the disease must be burned.

"Strobe"

"Abiga Peak"

On a note! Gray spots with yellow edging on snapdragon leaves indicate infection with septoria. This usually happens in hot but rainy summers. To eliminate the infection, such products as “Skor”, “Previkur”, “Fundazol”, “Acrobat MC”, “Ordan”, “Profit Gold” are used.

"Fundazol"

The following pests pose a danger to snapdragons:

scoop;
slugs;
avocado scale insect;
root-knot nematode.

To destroy them, the plants and the land on which they are planted should be treated with insecticides. Infected bushes must be removed from the flowerbed and burned.

Snapdragon is a beautiful flower that is undeservedly forgotten by many flower growers.

Until late autumn, snapdragon is able to surprise with its lush color, as it is not afraid of light frosts. Subject to simple rules, these colorful flowers can be planted and successfully grown on your own plot by every amateur gardener.

Snapdragon cannot be called refined or sophisticated garden plant, other epithets are suitable to describe it - bright, joyful, amazing with its splendor and variety of colors. In the flowerbed summer flower claims to be the main role, his more modest neighbors are suitable as partners, setting off his striking beauty.

Due to the fact that the plant has been in cultivation for a very long time, is grown everywhere and is capable of propagating by self-sowing, many classify “dogs” as too simple country flowers, not even suspecting how far modern selection has come. Looking at new varieties and hybrids of snapdragon, you never tire of being amazed by the bizarrely shaped inflorescences, amazing shades and special life-affirming principle that this flower possesses.

Nature generously splashed colors on this flowerbed

Anachronism or floral classic?

Antirrinum is a plant of southern origin, most of its species (about 50 in total) grow in Asia, Southern Europe, America. According to botanical characteristics This - herbaceous perennial of the Plantain family, some varieties become woody over time and form a subshrub.

Despite its diversity, only one species has taken root in culture and provided genetic material for selection - A. large. Due to its ability to produce full-fledged seeds in the first year, snapdragon is grown as an annual plant, although it can be grown as a biennial plant or perennial.

During the growing season it forms a pyramidal bush consisting of straight branched stems. The height depends on the variety and varies in the range of 15–100 cm. The leaves are dark green, rounded in young shoots, and elongated oval in adults.

The main distinguishing feature of snapdragon flowers is the bizarre two-lipped shape, which, in addition to the antirrhinum, can be observed in clasp, oregano, salvia, and orchids. The corollas, similar to the slightly open mouth of an animal, are collected in lush brushes. One plant, in addition to the main peduncle, expels several lateral ones, up to the fourth order. Flowers in a raceme bloom gradually, upward; each of them takes 10–12 days from opening to pollination. These features provide snapdragon bushes with a continuous flowering period from the beginning of summer until frost.

The color of all the colors of the rainbow, bright, in many varieties variegated, repels connoisseurs of noble shades - rich, deep, one tone. They consider the flower somewhat outdated, although this can be argued. In correctly arranged flower arrangements the plant looks quite organic, acting as a key accent.

This is interesting! The tubular flower, framed by lips, is not easy to pollinate - a difficult task only bumblebees can do. It is pollination that serves as a signal for the corolla to wilt and the seeds to ripen - which is why antirrhinum blooms for so long.

A sweet treat available to few: a bumblebee tries to get to the nectar

Types and varieties of antirrinum

Snapdragon has hundreds of varieties of domestic and foreign selection. Classification is carried out according to the height of the bush and ripening time.

Tall

The group includes varieties traditionally cultivated for cutting. The main peduncle starts from 65–70 cm; some gardeners separately distinguish gigantic antirrinums (90–100 cm). Distinctive feature- a powerful central shoot and several lateral shoots, much smaller in size. The brushes are large, multi-flowered, medium and late varieties, blooming from the second half of June. The following tall hybrids are popular with gardeners.

Snapdragon from the Madame Butterfly series is a giant with lush double inflorescences, the appearance of which resembles an azalea. The height of the compact bush is up to 75 cm, the shade scale is from pure white to dark burgundy. Typically sold in a mixture of colors.
Another popular series is the American hybrids Rocket F1. Bushes grow up to a meter high. The inflorescences are multi-flowered, the colors are traditional red, purple, pink and unusual - greenish-yellow, golden-orange, lavender.

Double inflorescences of Madama Butterfly

Semi-high

This is a group of universal Antirrhinum grandiflora. Compact pyramidal bushes 40–60 cm high are suitable for cutting and creating flower arrangements.

The legendary Dutch Liberty Classic series. Among the attractive characteristics are excellent shoot habit, uniform flowering, and rich color.
The La Bella intermediate group is popular among gardeners. Strong plants with excellent lateral branching produce a large number of double flowers - white, yellow, purple, red and white.
The Black Prince variety is distinguished by its restrained and noble beauty. Velvety burgundy inflorescences spike against the background of dark green foliage. Their deep, rich color makes them ideal as the centerpiece of a flower bed.

Bronze shades of the Liberty Classic series

The photo shows the Black Prince variety

Low-growing and ampelous

A feature of low-growing varieties (25–40 cm) is the formation of a branched hemispherical bush without a pronounced central shoot. The inflorescences, although smaller in size than those of the cutting groups, benefit from quantity.

Antirrinum Bronze Dragon got its name because of the color of the foliage - dark green with a bronze tint. The bushes are small - up to 20–25 cm, and are strewn with purple-white clusters of flowers all summer.
As a container crop, gardeners like to plant late variety Crimson Velvet with dark red inflorescences of medium size.
An unusual variety of snapdragon is the ampelous variety Lampion, which forms drooping shoots up to a meter long.

In the foreground is the ampelous form of the antirrhinum.

Dwarf

The group of dwarf varieties of snapdragon is represented by highly branching bushes up to 20 cm high with small double flowers. Examples of series and hybrids.

The Bels series of Dutch producers are strong plants with good basal branching and 8 shades, including a mix. The flower shape is open, used for growing in pots.
The early Montego group is also suitable for container plantings; flowers planted along the edge of the flower bed form an elegant border. The color is clean, rich, there are two-color varieties - yellow-orange, burgundy and white.
Dwarf hybrids Twinnie F1, Happy F1, and Floral are in demand.

Bright colors of hybrids of the Happy F1 group

The many faces of antirrinum in garden design

Snapdragon is such a colorful crop that amateur gardeners often have the question of what flowers to combine it with so that the flowerbed does not look flashy. It all depends on personal preferences and the style in which the garden is decorated.

Mixtures of colors are suitable for mixborders and flower beds in a natural (rustic) style. They can be combined with both bright (zinnia, dahlias) and more modest plants (cosmos, lobularia).
For compositions in subdued colors, it is better to use a plain antirrinum with a rich burgundy, white, or lavender color.
Group plantings and tapeworms will perfectly bloom the greenery of the lawn, a garden area with conifers or decorative deciduous perennials.
Planting dwarf and ampelous forms of snapdragons in closed ground(containers, flowerpots) will become a real decoration of the yard, balcony, gazebo.

Natural environment for snapdragons - elegant flower bed where he dominates

Features of growing at home

Snapdragon is a small-seeded crop; the main difficulty in growing it is timely planting and proper care for sprouts on initial stage growing season. Having grown stronger, the plants have enviable vitality and growth energy, so caring for them does not pose any special problems.

Location, soil

When choosing a place for snapdragons in the garden, give preference to sunny places; it is advisable to protect the planting of tall varieties from gusts of wind and drafts. The shadow has a depressing effect on culture. The bush, of course, will not die, but it will bloom less, less often and will not reach its full potential.

The same can be said about the soil. Snapdragon loves loose, nutritious, drainable soil, so if when planting you fertilize it with humus, fluff it with peat and regularly loosen it when caring, the grateful plant will respond a hundredfold.

The annual plant is propagated by seeds, although some fans propagate their favorite varieties by cuttings.

Seeds ripen in these unusual boxes that look like skulls.

Sowing seeds for seedlings

The main charm of snapdragon is its early and long-lasting flowering, but this is only possible when grown through seedlings. Seeds sown immediately in open ground will begin to germinate when stable warm weather sets in, i.e. not earlier than the end of April, but will bloom in the second half of summer; accordingly, the plant will not have time to fully realize its potential.

The optimal sowing time is late February - early March. The soil substrate you need is light, consisting of turf soil, humus and baking powder (peat, vermiculite). It is advisable to etch it before planting. strong solution potassium permanganate. There are several sowing options.

Seeds, like petunia and lobelia, are sown on the surface of the soil, lightly sprinkled with vermiculite and sand, and moistened with a spray bottle.
A layer of snow is placed on top of the prepared soil mixture, and seeds are sown on it. When snow melts, it will draw small grains into the soil.
Place a damp paper napkin with seeds on a small layer of soil. After pecking, they are sprinkled with a thin layer of soil. Sprinkling is done several times as the seedlings grow.

After sowing, the container is covered with glass or polyethylene and placed in a warm, bright place. The interval from sowing to germination is approximately 2 weeks. When grown for seedlings, snapdragon needs picking, and this is next stage work.

Advice! After sowing, ventilate the container with the seeds and periodically moisten the substrate, but do not allow it to become soaked. The planting container should be opened once a day for 10–15 minutes. Keep the greenhouse for some time after the seedlings appear, until they get stronger.

Shoots that have reached the age of picking

Picking seedlings

Snapdragon seedlings of the low-growing and intermediate groups grown from seeds are pricked once, and tall-growing ones - twice. Picking is carried out after the appearance of 2-3 true leaves, replanting not one sprout at a time, but in small groups so that the fragile seedlings support each other. Where can you plant seedlings?

IN larger container, planting at a distance of 5–6 cm, in separate plastic cups.
In cassettes for growing, followed by transplantation into peat pots.
In a diaper. Place a little soil and a seedling on a piece of film and roll it into a roll with an open bottom. Rolls with seedlings are placed on a moist substrate.
Growing snapdragons in peat tablets. You can either pick seedlings in them or immediately sow seeds.

After the transplanted plants begin to grow, they begin to be fed. For these purposes, a weak solution (1 g/l) of complex fertilizer, for example, ammophoska, nitrophoska, is suitable.

Seedlings planted in diapers

Advice! Many people are interested in whether it is necessary to pinch the snapdragon. Yes, for better branching, after 5–6 pairs of leaves appear, the central shoot is cut off above 3–4 pairs. The resulting cutting with two internodes is an excellent cutting that is easy to root by simply sticking it into the soil.

Landing at a permanent place

When the time comes to plant snapdragons outdoors, you will have strong, hardened seedlings, possibly with buds.

Important! To get early abundant flowering, it is advisable to illuminate the seedlings with fluorescent lamps (up to 14–15 hours in total). Lack of light can lead to stretching; this may be the reason why snapdragons do not bloom profusely, but only throw out a few meager clusters.

In the European part of Russia, snapdragons are planted in open ground at the end of May or early June, adhering to the following planting scheme:

high – after 40–50 cm;
intermediate – 30 cm;
short – 20 cm;
dwarf – 10–15 cm.

You can plant such seedlings

Care

Snapdragon requires the most basic care - weeding, regular loosening to enrich the roots with oxygen and retain moisture, and watering. Before flowering, the annual plant is fed several times with complex fertilizers. Tall hybrids need to be tied to a support. To prolong flowering, it is recommended to remove faded brushes, thereby provoking the growth of new lateral flower stalks.