Park Seed
Park Seed 'Rocket Mix' Snapdragon Seeds
A tall cutting-garden snapdragon on 36-inch stems. The Rocket series is the standard for florists and home growers who want long-stemmed flowers rather than compact bedding plants.
$5.95approx.
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Scrophulariaceae
Snapdragon
Antirrhinum majus
Hinged, dragon-mouthed blooms built for curious hands and outdoor beds
Christian Ferrer via Wikimedia Commons (cc by_sa_4)
About this plant
Antirrhinum majus, the common snapdragon, earns its name from its most distinctive feature: a two-lipped flower that snaps open and shut when squeezed from the sides. Each bloom is a small architectural marvel, and the plant produces them in dense, upright spikes that make a strong vertical statement in any outdoor bed or border. Belonging to the family Scrophulariaceae and the genus Antirrhinum, this is a plant with a clear identity and a long track record in gardens.
Classified as a perennial and rated across an exceptionally wide USDA hardiness range, Zones 1a through 13b, Antirrhinum majus is one of the most adaptable outdoor plants a beginner can choose. Its medium water needs mean it sits comfortably in the middle ground: not a drought-tolerant plant you can ignore, but not a thirsty one demanding daily attention either. At roughly ten minutes of care per week, it fits into even the busiest schedule. Difficulty is rated beginner, which means the plant forgives small mistakes and rewards consistent, simple attention.
The gallery
Historical plates & modern photos
Bloom
Christian Ferrer via Wikimedia Commons (cc by_sa_4)
Gallery
Christian Ferrer via Wikimedia Commons (cc by_sa_4)
Gallery
Christian Ferrer via Wikimedia Commons (cc by_sa_4)
How to grow it
Five steps, start to bloom.
Written for beginners. If you've never grown anything before, this is all you need to keep this plant alive and happy.
Pick a spot
Find a spot with enough light for its needs. Plant it outdoors, ideally sheltered from the harshest afternoon wind.
Plant it
Any good all-purpose potting mix or well-drained garden soil will do. Give each plant enough room for its mature spread. Crowding causes more problems than undersizing the bed. Water it in gently once it's settled.
Water it
Water when the top inch of soil feels dry, roughly once a week in summer. Soak the soil, then let it breathe before the next round.
Feed & tend
This one is very forgiving. A balanced all-purpose fertiliser at the start of the growing season is plenty, and you can skip a month without harm. Plan on 10 minutes a week of hands-on care: watering, a quick trim, checking for pests.
Enjoy it
Watch for new growth in spring and summer. If the leaves look tired, trim the oldest ones back to encourage fresh foliage.
Year at a glance
What to do, month by month.
Approximate for a temperate North American zone. Shift earlier the further south you garden, later the further north.
Jan
January: Rest
Dormant
Feb
February: Rest
Dormant
Mar
March: Wake up
New growth
Apr
April: Tend
Routine care
May
May: Tend
Routine care
Jun
June: Tend
Routine care
Jul
July: Tend
Routine care
Aug
August: Tend
Routine care
Sep
September: Tend
Routine care
Oct
October: Tend
Routine care
Nov
November: Wind down
Prep for dormancy
Dec
December: Rest
Dormant
Pet & people safety
Non-toxic to common pets.
Verified against a primary poison-control source. Still, no plant is a snack. Grazing in quantity can upset the stomach of any animal, and the hotline below is there if something goes wrong.
Dogs
Non-toxic
Non-toxic per ASPCA.
Source: ASPCA
Record covers Snapdragon toxicity for Dogs.
Cats
Non-toxic
Non-toxic per ASPCA.
Source: ASPCA
Record covers Snapdragon toxicity for Cats.
Bloomwise is not a substitute for veterinary or medical advice. Every line above comes from a hand-verified reference.
Recommended supplies
#adHand-picked tools for this plant.
We may earn a commission if you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you. Every product is curated by hand and chosen because it actually helps with this plant, not because it pays the highest rate.
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Frequently asked
Common questions.
- What USDA zones does Snapdragon grow in?
- Snapdragon is hardy in USDA zones 1a to 13b. If your winter lows fall outside that range, grow it in a container you can bring indoors, or treat it as an annual.
- How often should I water Snapdragon?
- Water about once a week in summer, adjusting for rainfall. Soak the soil, then let it breathe before watering again.
- How much sunlight does Snapdragon need?
- Snapdragon prefers four to six hours of sun, ideally morning light.
- Is Snapdragon safe for pets?
- Yes. Snapdragon is listed as non-toxic to dogs and cats by verified poison-control sources. No plant is a snack, though, and grazing in quantity can still upset any animal's stomach.
- Is Snapdragon good for beginners?
- Yes, this is a forgiving plant that tolerates inconsistent watering and the occasional missed feeding. A good choice for a first garden.
Sources
Plant facts on this page come from a blend of public-domain and open-licensed datasets: Biodiversity Heritage Library (historical botanical illustrations, public domain), USDA PLANTS (taxonomy, public domain), GBIF (occurrence and taxonomy, CC-BY 4.0), OpenFarm (crop guides, CC-BY-SA 3.0), and Open-Meteo (climate and hardiness lookup, CC-BY 4.0). Toxicity records come from the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center and the Pet Poison Helpline; every row is hand-verified against a primary reference.