The snapdragon or snapdragon flower belongs to the Plantain family. The Latin name of the plant Antirrhinum, meaning “snapdragon”, is associated, according to legend, with the feat of the ancient hero Hercules. When the hero defeated the Nemean Lion, the goddess Flora (the patroness of flowers) presented Hercules with a flower, which she called “snapdragon”, in honor of the great event.

Origin

In nature, snapdragon grows in southern Europe and North America. The plant has been grown in gardens for a very long time, about 5 centuries. Thanks to the efforts of gardeners and breeders, there are almost a thousand varieties of antirrinum in modern floriculture.

Description

This is a herbaceous or semi-shrub perennial plant that can also be grown as an annual. The stems of the “dogs” are straight, often branched, from 20 cm to a meter high, covered with oval or elongated green leaves. The flowers are large, fragrant, two-lipped, can be simple or double, collected in inflorescences - spikelets. The color of the flowers can be white, yellow, pink, red; flowers are often painted in 2 - 3 colors. The plant blooms from early summer until frost. Snapdragon seeds are very small, 7000 seeds weigh only 1 g.

Antirrinum varieties

All varieties of snapdragon are bred from a single species of plant - Antirrhinum major. Varieties of “dogs” can be classified by size into: tall (over a meter high), tall (80 – 90 cm), medium-sized varieties (50 – 60 cm), low-growing plants (up to 40 cm), dwarf flowers up to 25 cm in height.
Tall varieties of snapdragons form pyramidal-shaped bushes, where the main stem rises above the rest of the branches. These varieties of snapdragon flowers are suitable for cutting; the plants retain their decorative appearance in a bouquet for a long time.

Popular varieties:

Medium-sized varieties of the flower are distinguished by branched, lush bushes. These are ideal plants for decorating flower beds, mixborders, and flowerpots. Varieties of antirrinum, 40–60 cm high:

Low-growing antirrinums grow in the form of compact spherical bushes, with medium-sized bright flowers. Suitable for creating carpet flower beds, planting along paths, and decorating flowerpots.

• Floral is a group of dwarf varieties suitable for growing in pots; there are 13 options for coloring buds in this varietal group;
• Crimson Velvet - plant, 30 cm high, velvety flowers, rich burgundy color;
• Crown - a group of snapdragon varieties with bushes up to 35 cm high, and different colors of buds (pink, light lilac, white).

You can appreciate the beauty and variety of shades of snapdragon by looking at photos of flowers.

Choosing a location and preparing the soil for antirrinum

The plant loves well-lit places and is not afraid of the hot sun. Growing it in lacy shade is also possible, although the flowering will not be as lush. It is advisable to choose areas protected from cold winds.

Snapdragon needs nutritious and loose soil, with good drainage and neutral reaction.

Preference should be given to loams, with the obligatory addition of sand, or sandy loams, with a high humus content. The plant has a taproot system, so the fertile soil layer on the site should be no thinner than 30 - 40 cm. Close groundwater in areas where antirrinum will grow is not allowed.

Sowing snapdragons

In our country, snapdragon flowers are grown by sowing seeds. This is the simplest and most accessible method of propagation, especially since the seeds in the middle zone ripen well on the plant.

In the southern regions, you can sow directly into the ground in early spring, as soon as the soil warms up. In the middle zone and Moscow region, in order to admire the flowering of the “dogs” already in June, the flower is grown through seedlings. Sowing is usually carried out in March - early April.

The soil for the snapdragon flower is prepared from a mixture of turf soil and coarse river sand, with the addition of perlite and vermiculite. You can use purchased soil “Violet”. To prevent the occurrence of diseases, the soil is spilled with a hot raspberry solution of potassium permanganate or Fitosporin. The moistened soil mixture is laid out in seedling trays or boxes and compacted.

Antirrinum seeds are very small; for uniform sowing, they are mixed with dry sand in a ratio of 1 to 3 and scattered over the surface of the ground. You can first sprinkle snow on the surface of the substrate, and then sow the seeds. Melt water is a natural growth stimulator for seeds. Crops covered with glass or film are placed in a warm place (good temperature for germination is +24 degrees).

Snapdragon shoots will appear on the 12th – 15th day, the shelter is removed within a week, gradually accustoming the seedlings to fresh air. Flower seedlings are demanding on lighting, but snapdragons must be protected from direct, burning sunlight.

Important! To prevent seedlings from getting blackleg disease, it is recommended to alternate watering with plain water and watering with a weak solution of potassium permanganate. After watering, the soil around the seedlings needs to be loosened.

In the phase of 2–3 true leaves, antirrinum seedlings are planted in separate glasses or peat pots. 10 days after picking, the snapdragon is fed with complex mineral fertilizer according to the instructions. Before planting seedlings in open ground, about a week in advance, the plants pinch the central shoot above the 5th leaf to stimulate tillering.

In May, when the threat of sharp drops in temperature has passed, antirrinum seedlings are planted in flower beds. Tall varieties are placed according to a pattern of 40 by 50 cm, medium-sized ones - 30 by 30 cm, and for short-growing varieties, gaps of 20 cm are sufficient.

Caring for snapdragons in the garden

Snapdragon is not a plant that requires frequent watering. Regularly watering flowers with warm water is necessary only after planting seedlings, and during dry periods of summer. After watering, the soil around the plants needs to be loosened, simultaneously removing weeds. Snapdragon responds positively to mulching the soil around the bushes with wood chips, pine nut shells or other decorative mulch.

Tall varieties of “dogs” need to be tied to supports so that the tall peduncles do not break and droop to the ground.

To get long-term flowering of antirrinum, and not spoil its appearance, all flower arrows with faded buds must be removed from the plant.

Fertilizing with mineral fertilizer solutions for flowering plants should be given every 2 weeks, starting from planting seedlings in open ground.

Snapdragon can be affected by the following diseases: black leg, rust, gray rot, fusarium, septoria. Affected plants are destroyed. Disease prevention consists of regular treatment of plantings with antifungal drugs, especially in rainy summers.

Among the pests that plague the plant are caterpillars. In case of severe pest damage, flowers are treated with insecticides (, IntaVir).

Snapdragon in a flower garden

The variety of sizes, shapes and shades of antirrinum has made it a popular summer plant among gardeners around the world. Large bright snapdragon candles look impressive in the center of flower beds, surrounded by low-growing pansies, and.

Fragrant “dogs” are planted along the paths, with elongated flower beds in the foreground. Dwarf varieties of plants thrive in the limited space of pots and flowerpots. They can decorate balconies, terraces, porches.

Tall antirrinums stand well when cut for up to 12–14 days, and are an important component of summer fragrant bouquets.

Watch also the video

Snapdragon (Latin name Antirrhinum) is a cute summer plant, which the Russians call “dogs,” Ukrainians call it “mouths,” the British call it “biting dragon,” and the French call it “cleft mouth.” All these names indicate the external resemblance of the plant's flowers to the open mouth of animals. The article will discuss how to plant antirrinum and how to care for it in open ground, that is, in a flower bed. Colorful photos of these interesting flowers and information about when it is best to plant the plant will complete the picture.

Description, varieties and varieties

This plant, covered in myths and legends, has been in cultivation for about 500 years. Thanks to breeders who began work on Antirrium major in the 19th century, there are now about 1000 varieties of the flower.

The plant can be described as follows:

1. Herbaceous crop (subshrub) with vertical stems from 15 cm to 1 m in height.
2. The leaves are elongated-oval. Below they are located opposite each other, and in the upper part of the plant - alternately.
3. The green tone of the leaves may vary slightly among different varieties. The presence of red veins is often noted.
4. The flowers are irregularly shaped, two-lipped, simple and double. Endowed with a subtle, pleasant aroma. The color can be one-color or two- or three-color. All qualities depend on the variety.
5. The fruit of the plant is a two-lobed capsule in which from 5,000 to 8,000 thousand small seeds can ripen.
6. The first snapdragon buds open in June. Flowering stops in late autumn.

Snapdragon flower

There are several classifications of antirium. The most convenient of them is based on the height of the plants.

• Gigantic - stem length 90-130 cm. For example, the Arthur variety is 90 cm high with cherry flowers. XL hybrids of pink and red colors are also popular.
• Tall - 90 cm. A series of varieties Rocket with white-yellow graceful flowers and Madame Butterfly with double flowers of various colors are used for cutting.
• Average height - 40-60 cm. They stand out from other varieties due to their strong branching. Wildrose - pure pink flowers, Defiance - red-orange with a lilac tint, Ruby - bright pink.
• Low varieties - 25-40 cm. Ampelous hybrid Lampion, Ruby Star variety with flowers of the corresponding color, Tip-top - coloring in pastel colors.
• Dwarfs - height 15-20 cm. Top-Tumb - a sphere-shaped bush with bright yellow flowers, Floral - a group of hybrids with 13 color options.

The difference in height and wide range of colors of plants makes it easy to decorate a flowerbed or container with them.

Growing snapdragons

Before purchasing seeds, you need to decide on the variety. For example, tall plants are suitable for growing outdoors, while dwarf and ampelous varieties are ideal for balcony boxes.

You can collect the seeds yourself, but it should be borne in mind that hybrids do not retain their parental qualities. The collection begins at the time when the boxes in the lower part of the inflorescence are fully ripened. The unripe green upper part is removed. Place a simple paper bag over the remains of the flower shoot, hang the plant in a dry place and wait until the seeds begin to fall from the opened boxes.

Snapdragons can be grown on the balcony

This popular flower is grown in two ways:

• sowing in the ground;
• through seedlings.

The first option is simpler, but it is much more difficult to plan a flower bed. Everything here depends entirely on weather conditions. In the event of prolonged cold weather, some seeds may simply not germinate.

Advice. If it is not possible to grow seedlings, then it is better to cover the flower bed with snapdragon crops with agrospan or polyethylene.

Seeds for seedlings are sown as follows:

1. A low container, such as a box, is filled with fertile soil. For snapdragons, garden soil, sand and humus in a ratio of 2:1:1 are suitable.
2. Small brown seeds are scattered evenly over the surface of the soil. Using a sieve, cover them with a thin layer of soil.
3. The crops are moistened (preferably from a spray bottle).
4. The top of the container is covered with film or covered with glass.
5. The box is placed in a warm place.

Caring for snapdragon seedlings will not cause difficulties

The shelter is immediately removed as soon as seedlings appear and small plants are placed in a well-lit place. Snapdragons are planted in separate containers after about a month. The signal for picking is the formation of two leaves. After the development of 4-5 leaves, the top of the plant needs to be pinched. This will enhance tillering.

How to plant seedlings in a flowerbed and care for the plant in the future

Shortly before planting, the plants are hardened off by exposing the pots with seedlings to fresh air every day.
The flowerbed where the snapdragon is planned to be planted should be located in the sun, without shade. There are no special requirements for the soil, but loam with a neutral reaction is preferable.

Attention! Seedlings can be planted in a flowerbed only after the onset of stable heat. Even slight frosts can destroy the plant.

When planting different varieties, the following intervals should be adhered to:

• for tall varieties - up to half a meter apart;
• for medium-sized people 30 cm will be enough;
• It is better to plant low varieties every 20 cm;
• dwarfs require 15 cm spacing.

Directly planting snapdragons occurs in the same way as most flower crops. After rooting, the seedlings grow very actively and turn into a beautiful bush.

To create a beautiful composition in a flower bed, choose plants of different heights.

Flower care consists of traditional gardening work:

• glaze;
• loosening the soil around plants;
• weeding as necessary;
• fertilizing

The plant needs to be watered only during dry and hot periods of summer. The rest of the time, natural precipitation is enough for him. The next day after watering, you need to loosen the soil under the plants (this will promote better aeration of the roots) and remove any weeds that have appeared.

As a top dressing, immediately after planting, nitrophoska is suitable, and during budding, an aqueous solution of urea, superphosphate and potassium sulfate (1 tablespoon of each per 10 liters of water) would be a good option.

Advice. In order for the plant to bloom for a long time, faded flower stalks should be regularly removed.

Snapdragon needs no introduction as it is one of the most famous ornamental plants. Moreover, it has such pronounced decorative properties that it can radically transform any place, regardless of whether it is planted in a flowerbed in the garden or in an ordinary summer cottage. This flower is not only very beautiful, but also does not create problems in care. This can also be noted in relation to planting snapdragons, so even a novice gardener can cope with this task.

Snapdragon is one of the brightest representatives of perennial plants, which with their presence can decorate a flower bed in the garden, making it even more expressive. First flowers are formed already in the first month of summer, subsequently they will give aesthetic pleasure to the summer resident until the first frost. At the same time, the owner will not have to spend a lot of time and effort caring for this plant.

Plant varieties

Snapdragon is different in that it provides many species. Work on developing new varieties of this crop is the goal of many breeders. Due to such increased interest in snapdragon, today a large number of its species and hybrids have been bred, differing in their color.

Just look at the seed packets to understand how varied these colorful flowers can be. Moreover, in each case we will talk specifically about the snapdragon. Unfortunately, the currently available varieties could not cover full color palette, in which there are no blue and blue shades.

Snapdragons, which are also known as snapdragons, are one of the famous herbaceous plants that develop many straight, branched stems during their development. Varieties of this plant differ in stem height. The leaves of snapdragon usually have an elongated shape, green color, and are also necessarily decorated with a thin fleecy cover. If we turn to the name of the plant, it is associated with the shape of the flowers, which are very similar to the open mouth of a lion.

How does snapdragon reproduce and planting options?

Planting and care- the main events that determine how the flowers turn out. One of the available methods of plant propagation is sowing seeds. Moreover, you can get new seedlings in two ways:

• using seedlings;
• by planting in open ground.

In very rare cases, summer residents resort to the latter method. The reason for this is due to the fact that at the beginning of spring, when it is time to sow seeds in open ground, the ground does not have time to warm up, as a result, it becomes very difficult to grow snapdragons this way. Therefore, many gardeners most often use the method of propagation by seedlings: if you follow all the recommendations for growing at home, you can get fairly strong flower seedlings.

However, you can save yourself the labor-intensive work and buy ready-made snapdragon flower seedlings. But in this case it is necessary to carefully inspect the purchased planting material. It must be of very high quality. Then you will have confidence that beautiful and healthy flowers will grow from it.

First of all, you need to pay attention to the leaves and root system. The roots should not show signs of disease, and they themselves should be well developed. When assessing the condition of the stems, you need to take into account that they should not be thin and weak. The leaves decorating them should have rich colors. Much can be learned from the condition of the soil - if it is dry, then, most likely, the seedlings were poorly cared for.

If you are full of desire to get strong and healthy snapdragon seedlings, then you need to consider the following recommendations that will help you avoid many mistakes. This way you will know what conditions are favorable for growing flowers and after sowing you will be able to get the seedlings you are counting on.

How are seeds sowed?

To get strong snapdragon seedlings at home, you need not only correctly determine the appropriate sowing time, but also to carry out certain preparatory measures regarding planting material.

The fact that this plant has such a quality as unpretentiousness saves the gardener from many problems. Therefore, he does not have to prepare a highly fertile soil mixture, nor create optimal conditions for development. However, this does not mean that you can not pay any attention to them. It is imperative to take into account the characteristics of plants and create the necessary microclimate in accordance with them. In this case, you will be satisfied with the result.

You can plan to sow seeds for seedlings in early April or May. But first you have to Prepare everything you need:

• planting material (selected variety of snapdragon seeds);
• containers for planting;
• soil and shovel;
• sieve.

Agrotechnics of cultivation

You can sow seeds of snapdragon seedlings in wooden boxes, as well as individual flower pots. Having decided on a container for seedlings, you need to pour soil into them and level the surface. As a mixture, you can use a light, loose substrate, which is offered in any flower shop.

When sowing seeds should be placed quite densely. However, you need to be very careful and make sure that the seedlings are not too densely packed. Then the seeds need to be lightly pressed into the soil, and a layer of earth should be poured on top. The easiest way for you to do this is with a sieve. Then the layer of soil covering the seeds will be light, and this will help speed up the process of seed germination. When all actions are completed, the plantings must be watered with a small amount of water using a spray bottle. Finally, plastic film is stretched over the containers with plantings or a piece of glass is placed.

For rapid germination of antirrinum seedlings, it is recommended to install the boxes in a warm place.

The most favorable for pecking sprouts is temperature from + 20 to + 23 degrees. It is also necessary to create soft, diffused lighting for them. Usually after 14 days you will notice the first sprouts: from this moment you can begin to ventilate the boxes with seeds. Gradually, the duration of such hardening can be increased, then soon you can remove the film altogether.

While the seedlings are still small, they need to be provided with regular watering. The main thing is not to allow long breaks between soil moisture, since snapdragon is very responsive to moisture. Usually within a month the first two true leaves appear. When this happens, know that it is time to pick the seedlings into individual containers. Young seedlings must be replanted with extreme caution, making sure that the roots are not damaged.

In addition to picking, you can carry out pinching the top of the sprouts. However, this can be done at the stage when they grow up to 10 cm. Such an operation will speed up the process of formation of side shoots, and this will help you get lush flowers.

When and how to plant antirrinum in the garden?

The most favorable time for transplanting snapdragon seedlings to a permanent location is the moment when the last wave of frosts has passed and warm weather has set in. At this stage of development, the seedlings will reach a state in which they will look like small bushes. To plant snapdragon seedlings in a permanent location, it is recommended to choose sunny places. At the same time, the plant will grow well in areas where there is partial shading.

When transplanting seedlings, it is necessary adhere to the following scheme:

• for low-growing plants - 15 x 15 cm;
• for tall varieties - at least 40 cm.

How to care for young plantings and flowers?

After transplanting the seedlings to a permanent place, the owner will need to carry out regular watering, fertilizing and loosening the soil from time to time. For the first time, fertilizers must be applied already in 2-2.5 weeks after transplanting seedlings into open ground. It is best to start feeding plants with organic fertilizers. This could be, for example, nitrophoska. Subsequently, fertilizing is applied no more than once every two weeks until the fall.

Conclusion

Most flower growers are well acquainted with a plant such as snapdragon. Therefore, among the plants that they plant in flower beds, it is antirrhinum that becomes one of the first. It attracts many because it does not create problems both during planting and care. Therefore, many summer residents are engaged in growing this plant.

Despite the fact that snapdragons can be grown both through seedlings and by sowing in open ground, most often the first method is chosen, since favorable conditions for sowing in cold soil are not always created in the spring. However, growing snapdragons through seedlings is not very difficult, since care will only come down to regular watering. In the future, caring for it in the flowerbed will require regular fertilizing and loosening.

Snapdragon blooms for a long time. But to achieve this, the formation of seed pods should be prevented. Therefore, after the last flower on the arrow has faded, cut it off. The plant will soon give a new shoot, and flowering will continue.

If the soil on which snapdragons grow, then it is advisable to regularly fertilize with complex fertilizer for flowering plants. They can be carried out every two weeks, but start no earlier than two weeks after planting. Often, gardeners make do with only two fertilizers. The first time, after the plant has taken root and began to grow, it is fed with organic matter, and the second time, during the formation of buds, with any phosphate fertilizer.

Also caring for snapdragons includes loosening the soil, tying tall plants to supports, and controlling pests and diseases.

Pests and diseases

Snapdragons are quite often attacked by scale insects and caterpillars. The larvae of flies and butterflies can also lay on it. It is better not to wait for this scourge to appear and take preventive measures with the help of systemic medications. Snapdragon diseases can result from overwatering. These include black leg, rot (gray and brown), septoria. If you find signs of the disease, immediately remove the affected plant and destroy it, and treat the flower garden with a fungicide.

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Snapdragon (antirrhinum) is an ornamental plant often found in garden plots. 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.

Antirrhinum is a herbaceous plant whose straight stems grow up to 1 m in height. Elongated leaves can be either light or dark in color. The flowers have a pleasant aroma and are shaped like 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.

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.

There are antirrinums in white, pink, red and yellow colors. 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

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.

1. 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”.

   

2. 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”.

   

3. 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”.

   

4. 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 of them: terry varieties “Madame Butterfly F1”, yellow “Canary”, pink “Anna German”.

   

5. Giants, reaching 1.3 m. These are varieties such as cherry “Arthur F1” and others.

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.

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.

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 of dwarf varieties is allowed until April 15.

In the 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.

Video - How best to sow snapdragons

Plant care

Further care of the plant does not require much 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 of 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.

Snapdragon - cultivation and care

Diseases of the snapdragon

If the root system of seedlings is 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 beds. The procedure must be done before flowering.

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.

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.

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.

Until late autumn, snapdragon is able to surprise with its lush color, as it is not afraid of light frosts. If you follow simple rules, every amateur gardener can plant and successfully grow these colorful flowers on their own plot.