"Antirrhinum"

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About the Antirrhinum

The Antirrhinum is also know as the Snapdragon, Common Snapdragon, and Garden Snapdragon. They are also called Rabbit's Lips in Asia, and Lion's Lips in Holland. Botanically the species is Antirrhinum majus, pronounced 'an-TEE-ry-num MAY-jus'.

The name Snapdragon (snapping 'dragon mouth') comes from the dragon-shaped, closed, tubular flowers with rounded upper and lower lips. Each flower is about one and a half inches (3-4 cm) in length. Tall varieties carry up to fifteen flowers on a stem 3 feet (90 cm) long. The flower spike opens from the bottom up. They come in a great range of vibrant and pastel colors - shades of orange, red, pink, apricot, cream, yellow, white, purple, maroon, lavender, and many bi-colors. Native to Southwestern Europe and the Mediterranean area.

The best time to buy Antirrhinum is when the lowest 2 to 3 florets are open. Antirrhinum cut flowers are available in spring and summer.

What to Do When You Receive Your Antirrhinum Flowers

1. Unpack your flowers straightaway.

2. Use a clean vase. Fill it with clean lukewarm water and add a floral preservative solution, following the instructions provided.

3. Cut off all the leaves on the stem that would be below the water level in the vase. Otherwise these will rot, pollute the water and shorten the life of your Antirrhinums. Also remove any damaged leaves or flowers, and any yellowing foliage.

4. Cut off about 1 inch (2.5cm) from the bottom of the flower stems between the leaf joints, with the stems under water. Make the cut at an angle so that the flower stems do not rest flat on the bottom of the vase.

By doing this you help your Antirrhinum to maintain water uptake. Air bubbles and debris tends to collect in the bases of the stems and ,if this is not removed, water flow in the stems is greatly restricted. The cut should be at an angle and not flat across. You do not want the flower stems resting flat on the bottom of the vase since this will also restrict water uptake.

5. Arrange your flowers in the vase so that they are attractively displayed.

6. Keep Antirrhinums in a cool place and out of direct sunlight. Avoid draughts. They do not like very hot or cold areas .In a hot place in the direct sun the flowers will soon die.

7.Also keep Antirrhinums away from fruit and vegetables, and dying flowers as these all give off ethylene gas to some degree. The Antirrhinum is very sensitive to ethylene gas , which will shorten its vase life.

Care of Your Antirrhinum Flowers

1. Check the water level frequently and top up the vase with lukewarm water to avoid chilling the flowers.

2. Regularly remove damaged, or dying flowers and foliage. This helps the flowers last longer.

3. Every 3 days remove the flowers from the vase. And cut off about 1 inch (2.5cm) from the bottom of the flower stems under water and at an angle . This will maintain good water uptake and ensure development of the entire bloom spike.

4. Keep the stems vertically upright in the vase. Otherwise the stems might become curved. Antirrhinum stems bend upright in relation to gravity.

5. It is also a good idea to remove the topmost 2 inches (5cm) of stem to encourage the rest of the buds to fully open. This also helps prevent stem curvature.

Flower Life

If you give your Antirrhinum flowers good care, they will generally last up to 14 days. They can also be used for dry flowers.

Growing Antirrhinums Outside in the Garden

Antirrhinums are easy to grow in any well-drained, reasonably fertile, alkaline, garden soil, but prefer a light or medium loam. The soil needs to be kept moist. They like a warm, sunny location, but in a hot climate they are best in partial shade. Put the plants where they will receive good air movement to prevent the fungal disease botrytis. Try to avoid overhead watering for the same reason.

Tall varieties should be spaced 18 inches (45 cm) apart, the intermediate group 12 inches (30 cm), and 9 inches (22 cm) for dwarf types. Pinch out the growing point on young plants to encourage bushiness and prevent leggy growth. In a windy site you will need to stake the tall varieties. Cut off faded flower stems to prolong the flowering period.

In areas with a long hot summer climate Snapdragons often tend to languish and may not last the entire growing season. They tend to bloom best in cool weather and so are better grown in spring and fall. If flowering slows drastically after the first flush of bloom, you can cut plants back hard and apply fertilizer. This can be done when hot weather arrives to prevent disease. They should then grow back in late summer and flower by early fall. Sometimes they may bloom late into winter and again very early in spring through to summer.

Antirrhinums may be attacked by rust, fungal leaf spots, downy mildew, mold, wilt, root rots, aphids, and mites. If rust disease is a problem it is best to choose a rust resistant variety to grow. Or, you may need to spray every two weeks with a specific rust fungicide.

Propagation

Sow seed in March or April (or, 6-10 weeks before your last frost) in a seed tray and keep at about 65 deg F (19 deg C). Do not cover the seeds with soil as they need light for germination. Prick out when the seedlings are large enough to handle and grow on at 50 deg F (10 deg C). When the seedlings have become established, no extra heat is necessary. Harden off and plant out in late spring.

Antirrhinums can also be sown outside in late spring but some of the seed will not come up. Alternatively, if you have a mild winter climate, seeds can be sown in the garden in July and planted out in September where you want them to flower.

Types of Antirrhinum

For garden use there are many different types in a wide range of both pastel and bright colors. Sizes vary in height from trailing varieties, to 6 inch (15cm) edging, to 12 to 24 inch (30-60 cm) bedding plants, up to tall varieties 24 to 36 inches (60 to 90cm) for the border and for use as cut flowers. Mixtures are far more widely available than individual colors.

In the tall group 'Apple Blossom' has pink flowers. The 'Madame Butterfly' color mixture produces double flowers on long spikes (30 inches, 75cm in height). It is good for cut flowers for the blooms last a long time. The 'Rocket' hybrids are vigorous plants in an assorted color range. 'Forerunner' is also good.

The intermediate group is the most popular. With a height of about 12-18 inches, 30-45 cm, there are some fine forms such as 'Coronette Mixed', 'Rembrandt' (scarlet and gold), 'Black Prince' (deep crimson), 'Sonnet', 'Sprite', and 'La Bella' (makes an excellent quality bedding plant).

The dwarf group (6 to 9 inches ,15-22 cm in height) are ideal for edging or carpeting in modern gardens . 'Magic Carpet', 'Floral Carpet', 'Floral Showers' (the earliest to flower), 'Tom Thumb Mixed' , 'Bells' and 'Kim' (flowers late) are good varieties.

'Lampion' comes in a mix of soft bicolors and trails up to 3 feet (90 cm). It provides fine ground cover, or it can be used in hanging baskets and window boxes. Keep watered and feed to keep it looking good.

Antirrhinums are really short-lived perennials, that will only tolerate light frosts. So they are usually treated as half hardy annuals. If kept over winter they usually flower poorly the following season. They are winter hardy in USDA Zones 7-10.

There is more Antirrhinum flower information available. Please check out the links on the left at the top of the page. Click here for more Antirrhinum Information.

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