A tall Snapdragon that makes good cut flowrs. A tender perennial grown mostly as an annual.
Pronunciation
(an-tih-RI-num)(MAY-jus)
Plant Type
All Plants, Annuals
Hardiness Zone
9
Sunlight
full, mostly sunny
Moisture
average
Soil & Site
average, well drained, resents water logged soil
Temperature
good cool season plants, hardened plants can be put out in the garden early May and will bloom until heavy frosts. (zone #5)
Flowers
Racemes of flowers in a wide range of colors.. Honey Bees are heavy enough and strong enough to open the flower to get to the nectar. Once in, the flower snaps around them. The blooms form two separate cupped clusters that meet in the middle, like jaws. Squeeze the sides of the jaws, and the two clusters will separate, just like a mouth opening. Release the bloom and the jaws "snap" closed.
Dimensions
30-48 plus inches, upright
Maintenance
may need to be staked, deadheading promotes more blooms, has reseeded in my gardens
Propagation
seeds
Native Site
Species plant is native to south western Europe and Sicily.
Author's Notes
I have tried on a few occasions to grow taller Snapdragons that I purchased in pacs. Most of the ones I purchase have small flowers. These plants never reach their stated height. I think it has something to do with the small plants having flowers or flower buds. This seems to stunt their height potential. A solution is to start with plants lacking flowers or flower buds.