SNAPDRAGON

Description

Nothing captures youthful joy like snapdragons. These versatile bestsellers grow in spikes, each bursting with 6–15 fuzzy, tube-shaped flowers which look like puffy lips, to the delight of bees and children everywhere.

Its many cultivars are grouped into three main forms: dwarf, intermediate and tall. The dwarf versions are most popular as garden flowers; the intermediate and tall cultivars are grown commercially. Florist snapdragon spikes range from 14–30" (36–76 cm) tall, with blossoms ranging from ½–1 ½" (1.3–4 cm) in size.

Snapdragons may be dried using a drying agent such as silica gel or glycerine. They are both phototropic (bending toward light sources) and geotrophic (responding to gravity). All snapdragons are ethylene sensitive, but newer hybrids are less susceptible than older cultivars. Though some garden cultivars are fragrant, most florist snapdragons do not give off much scent.

Colors: Red, pink, orange, peach, yellow, purple, blue/purple, white

Special Care

Though they may act tough with that roaring snout trick, snapdragons are quite sensitive and must be handled with care. Choose sturdy, straight spikes with all buds showing some color and the bottom third to half of the flowers open.

Snapdragons are vulnerable to ethylene (it makes flowers “shatter” or fall off all at once) and to botrytis (it disfigures blossoms and interferes with water uptake). Treat with floral preservative containing an anti-ethylene agent, an antimicrobial and a sugar—those dragons have a sweet tooth and the sugar will boost both their colors and vase life.

Recut stems and remove only the leaves that fall below the water line. Taking off too many will stimulate the flowers to jump off with them. To maximize development of every bloom on the spike, refresh the solution and re-cut the stems every other day.

To prevent the spikes from bending, keep them vertical, brightly lit from above, chilled at 39–43°F (4–6°C), and at a relative humidity of 75–85%. Precision counts: too cool and they will wilt from chill damage; too warm and they will bend too far to recover. To keep spikes from bending toward the light once in an arrangement, just break off the tips.

Fun Facts:

• The flower’s mouth-like form inspired both its botanical and common names. The Greek words "anti" (meaning similar to) and "rhis" (meaning snout or nose), plus the Latin words "majus" (meaning large) signifies that Antirrhinum majus translates as looks like a big snout. The common name snapdragon draws on the game of first squeezing the corners of the flower’s “mouth” to open it wide and reveal “flames” of contrasting color and its lashing stamen “tongue,” and then watching the blossom snap shut when released.

• International common names for snapdragons include “rabbit’s lips” in Asia, “dragon’s mouth in Spain, and “lion’s mouth” in Germany, Italy and the Netherlands.

• One of the top-selling florist flowers worldwide, as well as a perennial garden favorite.

• Unlike their cousin, the foxglove, snapdragons have not been found useful in folk or modern medicine; instead they have been cultivated since the 18th century for their beauty alone. No hybrids existed until the mid-20th century; now there are hundreds.

• In folklore, snapdragons were thought to offer protection from witchcraft and aging. This may have come from the shape of the dry seed pod, which bears a creepy resemblance to a miniature skull.

• Also according to folklore, carrying a hidden snapdragon would make the bearer appear charming and gracious.

• Snapdragon essential oil and flower essence are used in aromatherapy and homeopathy to promote relaxation.

• A member of the Plantaginaceae (plantain) family, snapdragons are related to foxglove (Digitalis) and speedwell (Veronica).