One of my first memories of enjoying flowers as a kid was when my dad stopped in the garden section of Ace Hardware to show my brother and I how to pinch the flower on a snapdragon to make its “mouth” open and close. We were thrilled to see those flowers come to life, and I still cannot resist stopping by a snapdragon to make it talk.
Snapdragons (Antirrhinum majus) originated in southwestern Europe and have been enjoyed in gardens throughout Europe and the United States for decades. The genus name antirrhinum is from Greek meaning like a
nose or snout, which is a great description of the snapdragon!
Snap dragons are a cool season annual in Texas, and they come in a variety of colors. We can plant them in the fall for color throughout the winter, but it is not too late to get snapdragons in the ground if you would like to enjoy some bright yellow, red, pink, orange, or white.
I enjoy snapdragons in a pot on the porch, as a landscape border, or mass plantings for a bright pop of color. Snapdragons can range in mature height from 6” to 36” so select a variety that will grow to the right height for your space. Snapdragons need at least six hours of full sun and good drainage.
We have some time to enjoy snapdragons this spring, but they will die back as the temperatures get warm later this spring. Fortunately, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension has a relatively new Texas SuperStar plant with a similar look to snapdragons that you can grow in the heat!
Angelonia Serena is often called a “faux snapdragon” because of the tubular shape of the flower, but it originates in South America and can withstand the summer heat of Texas. Angelonia can be planted outside in the spring as soon as danger of frost has passed. It blooms throughout the summer in a pretty show of purple, pink, white, or pink-lavender flowers. Angelonia grows 12-18” tall, needs full sun, and needs regular watering. You can shear the plants to rejuvenate flowering, but I found Angelonia to be an easy plant to maintain.
Enjoy some fun snapdragons this month, then start looking for Angelonia to plant for the summer months. You’ll have showstopping color all year!
For more information about lawn and garden topics, contact Kate Hajda, Williamson County AgriLife Horticulture Extension Agent, at 512-943-3300.
