Sweet ‘n Sassy Snapdragons

This upright flower with brilliant blooms is easy to grow, has multiple garden uses, is great for fresh vase arrangements, and comes in a multitude of colors.  

The dragon-mouth-shaped flowers come in most any imaginable color, except blue. These blooms are a favorite for their tall brilliance and unique blooms—also a favorite of children (and me), who pinch the blooms’ sides to make the flowers “snap” open like a mouth. 

Snapdragons are a great selection if your yard has pests. I had deer demolish many trees and flowers, but they left my snapdragons alone! Too, rabbits are not fans of snapdragons so these pretty blooms tend to stand tall and undisturbed. 

Snapdragons do, however, attract the good-for-the-environment pollinators, like bumble bees and hummingbirds.  

• When planting, space plants 6 to 8 inches apart, in full sun.

• Deadhead spent blooms + water deeply. 

• Snapdragons partner well with pansies and violas.

• Snapdragons are available in various colors and heights, and some varieties are even low and trailing (instead of growing upright)—these are great for planters and hanging baskets. 

Want to cut snapdragons for bouquets inside the home? Cut stems in the morning, and select stems with only the bottom 3 to 5 flowers open. This ensures stems will be longer-lasting (7 to 10 days!). Keep stems upright once cut; if not, gravity will take over and the stems will droop! Snapdragons are a beautiful choice for vase bouquets.

Although snapdragons are winter-hardy in warmer climates (USDA zones 7 to 10), the fact that they need cooler temperatures to bloom well makes them a good choice for northern summer gardens.  

Snapdragons generally withstand some cold, and while they’re annuals, I’ve had years (in Indiana) when the plants returned the following year, even after a cold winter. Granted, they were planted in a relatively sheltered area against the house, but they did return. 

Great in gardens, ideal for vase arrangements in the home, and on the no-no treat list for deer and rabbits, snapdragons are an ideal addition to your home!