Snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus SNAPTASTIC ORANGE FLAME)
Grow the vibrant Antirrhinum majus SNAPTASTIC ORANGE FLAME Snapdragon for continuous orange blooms from April to October in full sun.
Complete Plant Information
Overview
The Antirrhinum majus SNAPTASTIC ORANGE FLAME is a cherished garden classic, known affectionately as Snapdragon, valued for its distinctive, dragon-shaped blooms lining upright spikes. This vigorous selection produces dense spikes of deep orange flowers, creating a striking vertical accent in the garden landscape. While botanically a short-lived tender perennial in warmer climates (Zones 8-11), it is widely cultivated as a reliable annual, ensuring vibrant color from spring well into the autumn.
The attraction of Snapdragon lies in its reliable, long season of color during the pleasantly cool parts of the growing period. The specific cultivar, Antirrhinum majus SNAPTASTIC ORANGE FLAME, offers excellent branching, contributing to a full, bushy display suitable for various garden applications. Gardeners prize the Snapdragon for its ability to provide rich color against its glossy, dark green foliage.
Optimal performance requires full sun and attentive care, particularly ensuring excellent drainage. By managing moisture and providing necessary pruning like pinching and deadheading, gardeners can maximize the floral output of this fantastic orange display.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Plantaginaceae
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 8-11
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 1-1.25 ft
- Spread: 1-1.25 ft
- Bloom Time: April to October
- Bloom Description: Orange
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Water Needs: Medium
- Maintenance Level: Medium
How to Grow
Establishing healthy Snapdragon displays of Antirrhinum majus SNAPTASTIC ORANGE FLAME starts with good timing and location. As a frost-sensitive annual in many regions, sow seeds indoors 6 to 10 weeks before your last expected frost date, or purchase sturdy starter plants. Plant seedlings outdoors only once the danger of frost has passed into moist, organically rich, well-drained soils. Full sun exposure is crucial for robust flowering, although plants may struggle during periods of intense, protracted summer heat.
Routine care focuses on maintaining consistent moisture; water deeply but avoid watering overhead, which can encourage fungal issues. To develop a bushier habit and prevent the plants from becoming leggy, pinch the tips of young stems. Deadheading spent flower spikes promptly encourages the plant to produce more blooms throughout the season.
If flowering productivity wanes after the initial flush, a hard cutback followed by a dose of fertilizer can often rejuvenate the Snapdragon plants. While Antirrhinum majus SNAPTASTIC ORANGE FLAME offers overwintering potential in Zones 8-11 (or Zone 7 with heavy mulching in protected spots), they are often best treated as high-impact annuals, allowing for fresh enjoyment each spring. Always choose seeds or starts certified as fungal resistant.
Landscape Uses
The size of the Antirrhinum majus SNAPTASTIC ORANGE FLAME selection, reaching around 16 inches tall, positions it perfectly for several design roles. Dwarf varieties excel when used as edging along pathways or tucked into window boxes and containers where their vibrant color can be appreciated up close.
Intermediate and taller heights are highly effective when integrated into mixed borders, providing necessary vertical structure amidst lower-growing perennials and annuals. The intense orange color makes this Snapdragon an excellent choice for hot-toned summer bedding schemes or mass plantings designed for high visual impact. For gardeners seeking fresh flowers, these upright spikes are superb material for cutting gardens.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
Noteworthy Characteristics
The common name Snapdragon derives from the flower’s appearance, resembling a dragon’s snout, formed by its tubular, two-lipped structure borne on terminal racemes. Antirrhinum majus thrives best when summer temperatures remain moderate, though this specific selection is noted for its vigorous, well-branched growth habit. The lance-shaped, deep green foliage nicely offsets the dense spikes of bright orange blooms characteristic of Antirrhinum majus SNAPTASTIC ORANGE FLAME.
Tolerances
- Deer
Potential Problems
Fungal diseases present the most significant challenge for Snapdragon growers. Rust disease can be particularly damaging; if it appears, avoid planting Snapdragons in the same location the following year. Other issues to watch for include various mold and fungal leaf spots, downy mildew, and root rots, often exacerbated by overhead watering or poor air circulation. Monitor young plants for aphids. Taller varieties benefit from staking or provided support until they branch out sufficiently to support their own weight.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Snapdragon suitable for?
This variety, Antirrhinum majus SNAPTASTIC ORANGE FLAME, is hardy in USDA Zones 8 through 11.
How large does Snapdragon grow?
Mature plants typically reach a height between 1 and 1.25 feet, with a similar spread of 1 to 1.25 feet.
What sun exposure does Snapdragon need?
For optimal blooming performance, this plant absolutely requires full sun exposure throughout the day.
When does Snapdragon bloom?
The long bloom season extends from April all the way to October, displaying brilliant orange flowers.
Conclusion
The Antirrhinum majus SNAPTASTIC ORANGE FLAME is an outstanding choice for gardeners seeking reliable, commanding color from late spring through the first hints of frost. Its upright spikes of intense orange blooms provide exceptional value, whether treated as a staple annual or grown as a tender perennial in suitable climates. Check your local frost dates and plan to start seeds early to enjoy this superb Snapdragon display throughout your garden season.
Companion Planting
Selecting appropriate neighbors enhances the health and visual appeal of your Antirrhinum majus SNAPTASTIC ORANGE FLAME. Because Snapdragons prefer cooler conditions and rich, moist soil, pair them with other annuals that share similar cultural needs when grown as bedding plants, such as pansies or petunias. In border settings, group them with later-blooming perennials that can fill in when the heat causes flowering to slow down. Ensure companions allow for good airflow around the base of the Snapdragons to help mitigate humidity-related fungal risks.
Design Ideas
The strong vertical habit of this Snapdragon variety shines when used to provide necessary height contrasts within a mixed container arrangement. Use mounding foliage plants at the base to hide the lower stems and keep the root zone cool and shaded. In perennial borders, plant them in groups of three or five to create bold focal points, using cool colors like blues or purples nearby to make the vibrant orange of the Antirrhinum majus SNAPTASTIC ORANGE FLAME really pop through contrast. Their medium height makes them excellent mid-border additions.
