Image Credit: Park Seed
Black Prince Snapdragon – Heirloom
“This dragon looks like it might really snap. A wonderful heirloom reselected for modern vigor and bloom power, ‘Black Prince’ Snapdragon is a glorious snapdragon with blooms of darkest crimson and bronzy foliage that complements the fresh greens of the spring or fall garden beautifully.
“The blooms arise on long, dense stalks, faintly redolent of cinnamon and so showy. ‘Black Prince’ Snapdragon plants reach 18 inches tall and about 12 inches wide in the garden—a great size for the bed, border, or even edging.
“If you have never “snapped” a snapdragon, here is how to do it: You’ll notice that the blooms form two separate cupped clusters that meet in the middle, like jaws. Gently squeeze the sides of the jaws, and the two clusters will separate, just like a mouth opening. The space is just the right size for a child’s finger to poke into the dragon’s mouth. Release the bloom and the jaws “snap” closed.
“‘Black Prince’ Snapdragon Seeds may be direct sown or started indoors for earlier blooms. Snaps are cool-season annuals that bloom in spring and fall in warm areas, summer in colder climates. In very warm locations they may winter over if mulched. They do best in full sun to light shade.” Park Seed
Image Credit: Park Seed
Twinny Appleblossom
Image Credit: Park Seeds
Sonnet Mix – 22″ Tall
How and When to Plant Snapdragons
Here are the Planting Dates for Where I live in North Mississippi:
“… you should start snapdragon seeds indoors 10–12 weeks before the last average frost date. You can then transplant the seedlings outside about two weeks before the last frost date.
My last frost date should be about April 11:
I’ll start my snapdragon seeds 10 – 12 weeks before that: about February 7.
| Nearest Climate Station | Altitude | Last Spring Frost | First Fall Frost | Growing Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WATER VALLEY, MS | 311′ | Apr 7 | Oct 30 | 205 days |
Here are some tips for growing snapdragons:
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Start indoors
Starting seeds indoors is the recommended method because it gives you more control over germination rates.
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Plant in cool weather
Snapdragons are cool-weather flowers that bloom best in temperatures between 40–80°F.
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Plant in rich, moist soil
Snapdragons do best in rich, moist, well-draining soil.
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Pinch back transplants
After transplanting, pinch back the transplants to two sets of leaves to encourage branching.
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Water during cold spells
If you want snapdragons to last longer, make sure to water them well during cold spells.
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Add mulch
You can add a layer of pine straw mulch to help snapdragons survive low temperatures.
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Harden off seedlings
Before planting snapdragon seedlings in the garden, you should harden them off for about 10 days to two weeks.
“Although snapdragons are classified as annuals, they can grow as short-lived perennials in USDA plant hardiness zones 7–10. Google ai
ANTIRRHINUM. [Snapdragons] —Columella alludes to this flower as “the stern and furious lion’s gaping mouth.” Its English names are Snap Dragon, Lion’s Snap, Toad’s Mouth, Dog’s Mouth, and Calf’s Snout.——In many rural districts the Snap Dragon is believed to possess supernatural powers, and to be able to destroy charms. It was formerly supposed that when suspended about the person, this plant was a protection from witchcraft, and that it caused a maiden so wearing it to appear “gracious in the sight of people.”
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