Unpretentious flowers of the original form with a long flowering period are the most welcome guests in the garden and outdoor flower beds. It is these qualities, as well as an amazing variety of colors, that have made snapdragon one of the most popular plants used for landscaping various areas. In this article we will talk about planting, reproduction, care for this plant.

Legend

The snapdragon flower (antirrhinum) has been known since ancient times. The mention of him can be found in the myths of Ancient Greece - in the cycle that tells about the exploits of Hercules. The myth tells how he defeated a terrible one who lived near the city of Nemea, abducted children and animals. Admiring the feat of Hercules and in memory of this event, the goddess Flora created a flower that looked like a lion's mouth, called the snapdragon. The goddess Flora gave this flower to Hercules. Since then, it has been customary in Greece to give warrior heroes this particular flower.

Spreading

In the wild, this plant can be found in Europe, on the North American continent. It grows a lot in the Mediterranean. Currently, more than 50 species of wild antirrinum are known. In our country, on the territory of Siberia and in the middle lane, you can often see wild flaxseed - a kind of snapdragon. For the first time it appeared in gardens in the 16th century, in 1587 in books there is a mention of antirrinum large as the only cultivated plant species.

Story

German gardeners were the first to become interested in this plant, and they began to conduct breeding work. They were later joined by their colleagues from other European countries. To date, there are more than one thousand varieties of antirrinum.

Description

Antirrinum should be attributed to perennial herbaceous plants belonging to the Plantain family. But in countries with frosty winters, it is grown as an annual. A strongly branching plant has a pyramidal shape, can be found in the form of a single bush. The leaves are usually lanceolate green in different shades (from light to dark). The flowers have very long inflorescences that can range from 5 to 60 centimeters. In a number of varieties, they have the shape of a pyramid. At the beginning of flowering, the lowest pair of flowers blooms, gradually it moves up. Each subsequent pair blooms a week after the previous one. Each pair continues to bloom for two weeks, and the flowering period of the whole plant is 3-4 months. The fruit of the plant is a multi-seeded box, where there are from 500 to 800 seeds.

Snapdragon flowers can be double and simple, with an open or closed corolla, they resemble the open mouth of a lion. Flowering time is very long, lasts from early summer to late autumn. The coloration of the antirrinum is diverse. There are almost all colors and shades, except for black and blue. Petals are two-color and three-color.

Types of antirrinum

All varieties of snapdragon are divided into four groups, which are subdivided according to the size of the stem. The variety of varieties and colors offers gardeners a huge selection of flowers in the right size and the right color. Their size can be from twenty centimeters to one meter.

Dwarf

The antirrinum of this species grows no more than 25 centimeters. Used for growing in pots, flowerpots and on balconies. Gardeners often plant compact bright bushes in rockeries, they also look good as borders.

short and medium

Snapdragons of these species are most often grown to decorate flower beds, to create flower arrangements with other flowers. The growth of a stunted plant is 40, and the average is 40-60 centimeters.

Tall and gigantic

A tall plant grows at least 60 centimeters. The giant type of antirrinum has a height of at least 80 centimeters. A feature of these species is that they practically do not branch, they need to make a support.

Ampelny

The antirrinum of the ampelous variety will look very impressive in a garden in which there are buildings with columns. He will be able to decorate them with unusually beautiful flower garlands falling down.

Like all flowers, antirrinum has different ripening periods:

• early flowering - from June;
• medium - in early July;
• late - by the beginning of August.

Snapdragon: growing from seed, when to plant

Antirrinum propagated by seeds and cuttings. Seeds can be sown in open ground (in warm climates) and through seedlings. In the latter case, seeds are sown in March.

The plant does not like to grow on peat and clay soils. For growing seedlings, it is preferable to use a mixture of fertile soil (you can use compost) and river sand in a one-to-one ratio.

Snapdragon planting and care

For sowing it is very convenient to use plastic containers with a lid. You can take disposable plastic cups and sow a few seeds in them (no more than 2-3). When shoots appear, the seedlings are not thinned out, but left to grow as a bush.

Before sowing, the container is filled with suitable soil, well moistened. Antirrinum seeds are very small, so when sowing, you can use the following methods:

1. A thin layer of snow is poured onto the surface of the substrate and sowing is carried out on it.
2. Combine the seeds with fine sand, which also simplifies the process.

Seedling care

After sowing the seeds, they are sprinkled on top with a thin layer of earth (you can use a sieve) and moistened with a sprayer. Top with a lid or cover with a film. Seeds during germination need high humidity and a temperature of 23-25 ​​° C. The soil must be kept moist and not allowed to dry out.

With proper care, snapdragon sprouts when grown from seeds appear 10-15 days after sowing. As soon as sprouts appear, the container must be moved to a more lit place, otherwise the seedlings may stretch. The film should be removed a few days after shoots appear.

Plants grow quite slowly at first, but don't worry. Watering at this time should be very moderate. If a black leg is found in a plant, it should be removed immediately, and it is recommended to sprinkle the soil with crushed activated carbon or wood ash. For any type of rot, you should use the Fitosporin preparation in the amount of 10 drops per liter of water.

picking

When the snapdragon seedlings (pictured) appear in the second pair of true leaves, it's time to start diving. This procedure should be carried out with extreme caution so as not to damage the delicate roots. For a plant, containers with a diameter of no more than 10 cm are chosen, focusing on the variety; it is not advisable to use spacious pots. Before planting (per day), the soil is not moistened, this is necessary for easier extraction of seedlings with a good earthen clod. The seedling is first laid out on a flat surface, a depression is made in the pot and the seedling is placed in it.

Experts advise to carry out two snapdragon picks. The first - in the phase of the second pair of true leaves, and the second - after 30 days. When the plants reach 10 centimeters, experienced flower growers recommend pinching the top. This promotes the emergence of new lateral shoots, which will eventually give more stems and the flower will be more lush.

In the event that ready-made seedlings are purchased, it is necessary to pay attention to its following qualities: the leaves should be juicy green in color, the stem should not be too thin. But it is especially important that the plant has a developed root system.

Landing in the ground

Consider the features of planting and leaving snapdragons (with photo) in the ground. It is necessary to be aware that when breeding different varieties and planting them close to each other, cross-pollination is possible, in which new plants for the next year (when collecting and planting these seeds) will differ significantly from their parents. Snapdragons should be planted in the ground when the threat of spring frost has passed. Depending on the region, planting is carried out from the first days of May to mid-June.

The most suitable soil for antirrinum is loam and sandy soil, which has good water and air permeability. If you want to get a more lush and long flowering, then you should add to the soil:

• complex fertilizer for flowers (st. Spoon), or nitrophoska;
• peat (1 kg per square meter);
• humus (3-4 kg);
• wood ash (1 tbsp per square meter).

The soil is well dug up and loosened. In the garden for planting a snapdragon flower, the lightest place is chosen, the dark one does not fit at all - the plants will not bloom. In partial shade, less lush, scarce flowering is observed.

It is best to transplant in the evening or cloudy weather. For different varieties, when planting, different intervals between plants are provided:

• dwarf varieties - 15x15 cm;
• low grades - 20x20 cm;
• medium - 30x30 cm;
• high - from 40 centimeters.

In the wells prepared in advance, the plants from the pot are released along with an earthen clod. Deepen the flower should be to the cotyledon leaves. The earth around the plants is lightly tamped with the help of the palms and watered.

Summer flower care

To maintain moisture in the soil and better flowering, antirrinum bushes must be mulched. As a covering material, it is best to use straw, sand, sawdust. The flower does not like drought, but with excess moisture it starts to hurt. Therefore, watering should be regular, but moderate. It is better to water the plant under the root in the morning: this will help to avoid diseases associated with improper watering.

25-30 days after the snapdragon flower has been planted in the ground, it must be fed with a complex fertilizer for annual garden flowers. Top dressing must be done regularly, throughout the summer. The interval between them should be 2-3 weeks.

When planting on heavy soil, in order to achieve good plant growth, not only timely top dressing should be carried out, but also loosening, tying high species. Loosening protects the root system from diseases and leaching. Tying can prevent the death of tall bushes in windy weather.

If you pinch the main and side shoots of the second order, the splendor of the bush will increase significantly. If the antirrinum does not bloom, it is necessary to cut off the longest shoots and its flowering will resume. To make it longer, the buds that have already faded must be removed.

Cold resistance

Snapdragon is able to withstand small sub-zero temperatures (up to -4), then acquiring its original appearance. Therefore, you can admire the luxurious flowering until the very frost.

cut

To use cut flowers, they must be removed before they bloom. In this case, a snapdragon bouquet at home can be stored for a long time.

Healing properties

Antirrinum is a very ornamental plant, but its flowers are also used successfully in folk medicine. An infusion of its flowers is used for bloating, some liver diseases. During the recovery period after hepatitis, it is good to use a mixture of immortelle flowers, snapdragons and corn stigmas. An infusion of antirrinum is used for shortness of breath, dropsy and severe headaches. Externally, an infusion of this flower is used for hemorrhoids, boils, open ulcers on the skin.

Popular varieties of antirrinum

Breeders have bred a huge number of varieties of snapdragon. Photos of flowers and a description of the most famous of them are presented below:

1. Madame Butterfly. Medium-sized variety, inflorescences are large, terry, unusually bright, of all existing shades, collected in high dense brushes.
2. Rainbow. Grows up to 40 centimeters. Differs in a large abundance of flowers of various shades.
3. Scarlett. Bush up to 60 centimeters high. Inflorescences of red juicy color, collected in tall pyramidal brushes. The variety is frost-resistant, goes well with perennials in flower arrangements.
4. Tom Thumb. Refers to the dwarf species. The original variety with pastel colors and shades of inflorescences.
5. Russian size. The variety is intended for cutting, reaches 160 centimeters. The flowers are large, usually two or three shades, with dense inflorescences.
6. Lampion F1. A completely unique variety of ampelous species. Used for hanging planters, grown on balconies and loggias. The leaves are dark in color with a silvery tint.
7. Black Leaf. Small neat bushes. Inflorescences have a variety of colors of flowers, the leaves are dark, almost black.

Various mixes (a set of seeds with different colors) are popular. Most varieties of snapdragon (photo) have several color options. You can buy them in the form of mixes or separately.

Collection of seed material

The collection of snapdragon seeds should be carried out at a time when they are not yet fully ripe. To collect, you need to prepare a long paper bag. The desired specimen is selected, its top is cut off, where the fruits have just begun to ripen. A paper bag is put on the remaining stem, which is tied up below the fruit, and then the stem is cut off. The paper bag is turned over and stored in a dry, ventilated area until the seeds ripen. As soon as the seeds ripen, they will be poured from the seed box into the bag. After that, they are laid out in boxes or bags and stored in a cool room with an air temperature of 5-10 ° C.

Diseases and pests

Antirrinum is susceptible to the following diseases: gray rot, rust, septoria, black leg. Treatment of a plant for these diseases is complex and time consuming. Flowering during this period completely stops and the flower does not have time to fully bloom again. Therefore, diseased plants should be pulled out of the soil and burned. Infected soil is treated with a fungicide.

Insects that can lay eggs in flowers or leaf axils are dangerous for flowers. It can be various flies, scale insects, caterpillars and butterflies. To prevent this, you should follow a number of rules:

• do not plant seedlings at a close distance from each other;
• immediately remove damaged plants;
• prevent waterlogging of the soil;
• water under the root, preventing water from getting on the leaves.

After flowering is over, all plants are collected and burned to remove possible pests, and the site is dug up.

Not such a simple plant, this snapdragon.
I have it growing in my garden. I bought seedlings.
Ros is bad. There were few flowers.
It has not been possible to grow it from seed. Did something wrong.

I want to know what's wrong :)

DESCRIPTION

Snapdragon (Antirrhinum) is a perennial herbaceous plant with large green stems of the Plantain family, which we grow as an annual.
The plant forms many stems.
Snapdragon stems are straight, branched, of various heights: there are undersized varieties, only about 20 cm, and there are tall ones, up to one meter high, which form pyramidal bushes during the growing season.

Growing snapdragons from seeds

The snapdragon reproduces in generative and vegetative ways. Snapdragon seeds retain the ability to germinate for several years.
Sowing snapdragon seeds for seedlings can be done from the end of February, in March, to the beginning of April.

Seeds of snapdragon when sowing are lightly sprinkled with earth. The first shoots begin to appear after ten days, however, the germination of snapdragon seeds can take up to a whole month. For better germination, cover the container with snapdragon seeds with a glass or plastic bag. As soon as shoots begin to appear, the film or glass must be removed. For better germination, keep a container with snapdragon seeds at an air temperature of at least +18 ° C. Snapdragon seeds can be sown immediately in open ground in May, covering the bed with a film or agrospan.

In the first time after the germination of the snapdragon, monitor the soil moisture: overdrying, as well as severe waterlogging of the soil, can lead to the death of seedlings. Do not postpone the transplantation of snapdragon seedlings for a long time: it must be carried out at the stage of the first two or three true leaves. When the snapdragon seedlings grow to 4-6 pairs of true leaves, the tops of the plants should be pinched to form additional stems.

We pour coarse sand into bowls with a diameter of at least 10 cm with drainage holes, and on top of the sand - compost soil mixed with sand, compact it, level it, sprinkle it with water from a spray bottle and distribute the seeds also mixed with sand over its surface, which we then cover from above with a thin layer of the same substrate, moisten it from a fine spray gun and cover the plate with glass sowing. Every day we remove condensate from the glass, let the crops breathe and, as necessary, moisten the soil from the sprayer. At a temperature of 23 ºC and moderate humidity of the substrate, sprouts will appear in a couple of weeks. As soon as this happens, move the bowl to a bright, non-sunny place so that they do not stretch out, and as soon as the emergence of seedlings becomes massive (in 3-4 days), remove the glass.

SEEDLING AND LANDING IN THE GROUND

Seedlings will grow slowly at first, and your task during this period is to monitor the proper moisture of the soil, watering the soil in the morning in such a way that there is enough moisture, but not in excess, as this can lead to seedlings with a “black leg” disease.
“Fallen” sprouts must be removed with tweezers, and the place where they grew should be powdered with crushed coal or sprinkled with a small amount of calcined and cooled river sand.
After the appearance of a pair of real - not cotyledon - leaves, the seedlings dive into a container or box, arranging them so that they grow freely. You can plant seedlings in personal pots or, for example, dive three sprouts into larger pots.
Place the picked seedlings in a bright place, protecting them from direct sunlight, and begin to gradually accustom them to the environment and temperature in which they will find themselves after transplanting into open ground: open the window for a while during the day, but make sure that the seedlings do not was in a draught.
The central shoot of each seedling after the development of 4-5 leaves must be pinched to enhance tillering, but if the side shoots are also growing too actively, pinch them too.

Seedlings are planted in the ground after May 25 at a distance of 10–15 to 40–50 cm, depending on size. Tall and medium-sized antirrinums are pinched over the 5-6th leaf so that they bush better and bloom longer and more abundantly. When planting, it is good to shed the wells with a solution of alerin (biological preparation) to protect the plants from root rot. In the first two weeks they are watered and loosened - there should not be a crust on the ground.

On heavy (clay) or too loose (peaty) soils, snapdragon blooms poorly and lodges, as it develops a weak root system that is unable to hold tall plants, for example, after heavy rains. Therefore, on heavy soils, varieties and hybrids with a height of more than 60 cm should be regularly loosened, fed and tied to a support.

Snapdragon is photophilous and cold-resistant, it is watered only during the dry period. Seedlings and hardened seedlings tolerate short frosts down to 3–5°C. Flowers and after the first October cold weather do not lose their decorative effect.

The most interesting plants you like in October can be transplanted into pots and brought into a cool room - with a temperature not exceeding 15 ° C, and they will bloom throughout the winter.

SOURCES

Snapdragon (antirrhinum) is a flower that is perennial, but in our climatic conditions it is grown as an annual, that is, only in the warm season. Its variety of varieties is simply amazing. It can also be curb, up to 20 centimeters high, and gigantic, up to 1 meter high or more. Antirrinum gained particular popularity among flower growers also because its planting and further care do not cause any difficulties, because. it is indeed a very hardy plant. Cultivation is recommended to be carried out by seedlings, and reproduction - by seeds.

Varieties of antirrinum (snapdragon)

The most popular classification of snapdragon varieties is its division depending on the height of the bush:

By the way! Snapdragon flowers are simple and double. Terry inflorescences look especially good when composing bouquets.

How and when is it better to plant snapdragon seeds for seedlings

Planting dates for seedlings

Growing snapdragons through seedlings is explained quite simply: the flower has a rather long period of development from the moment of the first shoots to the beginning of flowering.

The time and timing of sowing snapdragon seeds for seedlings naturally primarily depend on the climatic conditions of the growing region. So, antirrinum begin to sow from the end of February to mid-April.

Note! The site already has a detailed article about, including favorable days for landing in 2019 according to the lunar calendar.

Tank and soil

For growing snapdragon seedlings, any purchased and home-made containers are suitable. It all depends on how much you are going to grow the plant.

The soil can be purchased ready-made at a garden store or prepared with your own hands at home on your own.

Due to the fact that the size of the seeds of the antirrinum is small, they can even be said to be tiny, after preparing the soil mixture it will need to be sifted, the same applies to the purchased land.

To prepare the soil mixture for snapdragon seedlings, you will need:

• 1/7 washed sand;
• 2/7 garden land;
• 4/7 peat.

Now the earth needs to be mixed well and then sieved. Further, in order to protect future seedlings from the black leg and extra shoots of weeds, the soil must be steamed in a double boiler or heated in the oven for 60 minutes.

By the way! Mix an additional 4 tbsp. spoons of ash and 2 tbsp. spoons of dolomite ash, snapdragon sprouts well and grows in slightly alkaline soil.

Video: the subtleties of growing snapdragon seedlings

Direct fit

When sowing snapdragon for seedlings, follow the following step-by-step instructions:

Video: sowing snapdragon for seedlings in February

Antirrinum seedling care after planting

As a rule, shoots appear after an average of 2 weeks, although it may take longer. It all depends on the temperature conditions under which the landing container with antirrinum will be located.

As soon as the seedlings look out, it is necessary to lower the temperature to 18-20 degrees. Also, so that young shoots do not begin to stretch, good lighting is necessary. As always, you can use phytolamps or more economical LED lights.

At the beginning of their journey, seedlings grow and develop somewhat slowly. Watering should be neat, frequent airing. After 7 days after the emergence of shoots, the shelter must be removed completely. However, at first it is recommended that the direct rays of the sun do not fall on the plant.

Periodic loosening of the earth as one of the elements of growing seedlings will help to avoid the appearance of a black leg.

picking

Upon reaching 2 true leaves in development, it is necessary to pick a snapdragon, which he tolerates quite cheerfully, and then easily takes root.

For transplanting, you should use the same composition of the earth as for seedlings, but this time it no longer needs to be sieved. There is nothing to worry about if this time large fractions fall into the soil mixtures. This will be a kind of hardening for the roots of a young plant.

The weather for snapdragon picking is better to choose cloudy (during the day) or when there is no more sun, that is, it is better in the evening. The fact is that in this case we will give the plant a whole night to strengthen, and by morning the dived seedlings will already feel fine.

The step-by-step process of snapdragon picking:

Video: picking snapdragon seedlings

Seedling care after picking

Top dressing of snapdragon seedlings must be carried out on the 5-7th day after picking. It is best to feed with nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium complex fertilizers having an element content in equal parts, such as nitroammophoska. You can water both under the root and along the leaf, which will positively affect the development of the plant itself and give more abundant flowering.

When the plant reaches 4-5 pairs of true leaves, it is necessary to carry out topping, which stimulates the active growth of side shoots. When the side shoots reach 3 pairs of true leaves, you will need to do a circular pinching of the side shoots. This will start the mechanisms for the development of additional shoots, which will subsequently lead to even more flowering of the plant. In this way, it will be possible to grow a real round ball with hundreds of beautiful flowers at the same time.

Video: rules for pinching adult snapdragon seedlings

When and how to plant snapdragons in open ground

A couple of weeks before planting in the garden, begin to gradually take out the seedlings, first just to the balcony, and then to the open air. Antirrinum seedlings hardened in this way will easily take root in a new place and will not suffer in the event of return frosts.

As a rule, snapdragon seedlings can be planted in open ground as early as May. Such an early period is due to the exceptional frost resistance of the plant.

Snapdragon is a light-loving plant, but it also tolerates light partial shade, so choose the appropriate place for planting seedlings. However, it is worth knowing that in partial shade the antirrinum will bloom much more modestly.

As you already understood, antirrinum loves loose and slightly alkaline soils. If the earth is too heavy and clayey, then the roots of the plant will not be able to develop normally. Therefore, in order to make such a (heavy and clay) soil more suitable for planting, dolomite flour or wood ash should be added to it, as well as a little sand.

Plant seedlings in pre-prepared planting holes along with a clod of earth. The landing pattern for each variety is different. For example, it is optimal to plant dwarf and low varieties at a distance of about 20 centimeters, medium-sized ones - 25-30 centimeters, and tall ones - 45 centimeters.

As soon as you land, you can water abundantly and, if desired, mulch with peat.

Video: planting a snapdragon in open ground

Outdoor antirrinum care

Further care for the antirrinum consists of regular watering, occasional fertilizing, weeding and regular loosening of the soil.

It is recommended to feed snapdragons, as during the cultivation of seedlings, with a complex mineral fertilizer, such as nitroammophoska (ammophoska and nitrofoska can also be used).

Snapdragon is very demanding on moisture, but in case of excessive drought, it quickly recovers after abundant watering. However, if you forget about regular watering, the plant will not open well, and flowering flowers may fall off. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you do not allow drying out. The best time for watering is in the morning.

Watering snapdragons is desirable to carry out directly under the root. If this is done superficially, then the flowers will be filled with water and gradually slope. Some may even fall, you hardly want to admit it.

The antirrinum blooms in waves, that is, periods of lush flowering are replaced by some fading, when all the flowers have faded. Do not worry, this means that the next wave of flowering is on the way. Such waves can continue until the very frost, in other words, until late autumn.

Thus, if you use approximately the same scheme for sowing seedlings and the recommended agricultural practices for growing snapdragons, then it will bloom all summer and delight you with its lush and abundant flowering until the end of autumn.

Video: how to sow snapdragons and properly care

In contact with

Snapdragon blooms are long lasting. But in order to achieve it, the formation of seed pods should be prevented. Therefore, after the last flower on the arrow has faded, cut it off. The plant will soon give a new arrow, and flowering will continue.

If the soil on which snapdragon grows, then it is advisable to carry out regular fertilizing with complex fertilizer for flowering plants. They can be carried out every two weeks, but begin no earlier than two weeks after planting. Often flower growers manage with only two dressings. The first time, after the plant has taken root and started growing, it is fed with organic matter, and the second time during the formation of buds - with any phosphate fertilizer.

Also, caring for snapdragons includes loosening the earth, tying tall plants to a support, and pest and disease control.

Pests and diseases

Snapdragons are often attacked by scale insects and caterpillars. Also, larvae of flies and butterflies can be laid on it. It is better not to wait for the appearance of this scourge and take preventive measures with the help of systemic drugs. Snapdragon diseases can be the result of excessive watering. These include black leg, rot (gray and brown), septoria. If you find signs of a disease, then immediately remove the affected plant and destroy it, and treat the flower garden with a fungicide.

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This article is about snapdragon, or antirrinum, in general. A bright, elegant, juicy flower that is somewhat out of fashion, but there is no doubt that its popularity will still be at its peak. This is a very bright, flowerbed flower, pleasing with a variety of colors and funny "faces" of flowers.

Description

Snapdragon is a perennial, cultivated in our country as an annual. The plant has a straight branched medium leafy bush. The height varies greatly, from compact varieties of 15 cm to giants of 1 m. The flowers are collected in a spike-shaped inflorescence. The range of colors is varied, only blue, blue, lilac tones are not represented. Flowers are multi-color, two-color, terry. They have a pleasant aroma. The plant has a long, rich flowering, blooms from June until frost. With a mild winter, it can successfully overwinter and bloom the next year. The plant loves light, but can grow in the shade. It can be planted under trees. Cold-resistant, tolerates moderate spring temperature changes.

Historical information

Of course, snapdragons cannot be defeated, whose wild-growing ancestor could not even be found, but this flower is also one of the most ancient cultivated plants - gardeners have been growing it for over 500 years. The ancestor of all modern varieties (and there are about 1000 of them today) was one species - antirrhinum large (Antirrhinum majus).

There is an ancient Greek legend about the origin of the flower: the flower was created by the goddess Flora, who admired the feat of Hercules, who defeated the Nemean lion. The goddess tried to make the flower resemble a lion's mouth.

Species and varieties

Snapdragon or antirrinum (lat. Antirrhinum) is a whole genus of plants with about 50 species of perennial herbaceous plants. The genus is a member of the Plantain family (such well-known crops as bacopa, toadflax are also included in this family)

Most species are native to North America.

The name Antirrhinum in Greek means "like a nose". In many countries, the plant received a bright, figurative name that best characterizes the structure of the flower - "dogs" (Russia), or "biting dragon", snap dragon, (English-speaking countries), "wolf mouth" (France), "mouths" (Ukraine ).

All varieties are classified according to different characteristics, the simplest classification is according to plant height:

1. Dwarf- 15-20 cm. These are border and charming container plants. Abundantly bushy, lateral shoots of the same height as the main one. They also look great in rock gardens, ridges and carpet beds.
2. Low- 25-40 cm. They also look great in flower beds, in discounts, borders, carpet compositions, containers, planters. Side shoots and main on the same level.
3. Medium - 40-60 cm. Universal, suitable for group plantings, flower beds, suitable for cutting. Strongly branched, the central shoot is the highest.
4. High- 60-90 cm. Accent plants in a mixborder or in a flower bed. The lateral shoots are much lower than the central one, which is why the flowering plant resembles a candle. When cut, it stays fresh for 2 weeks.
5. giants- 90-130 cm. They are used for the same purposes as high ones. The central shoot is much higher than the second level shoots, there are no lower levels.

Landing and care

Top dressing is not necessary, but the plant will well perceive watering with a weak solution of complex mineral fertilizers 1 time in the middle of summer.

Basic Rules:

1. The place should be sunny, you can - partial shade.
2. Be sure to have good drainage in the area!
3. It is advisable to choose a place protected from the winds.
4. The acidity of the soil is medium, the soil should be fertile, light, nutritious.
5. Care is extremely simple, the plant is unpretentious: watering, removing weeds, loosening.
6. Watering is required plentiful only in a dry hot summer.
7. Withered flowers, if it is not planned to collect seeds, cut off and cut off faded arrows, this stimulates the appearance of new ones.
8. Immediately after planting in open ground, they are fed with organic matter, the second time mineral top dressing is during the budding period (a solution of urea, superphosphate and potassium sulfate is prepared).
9. If the plant is sick with rust, black leg, gray rot, it is immediately removed and burned, the planting site is shed with a fungicide.
10. From scale insects, caterpillars and other pests, it is best to use preventive measures: no excess and stagnant water, do not water so that water gets on the leaves, remove the affected plants.
11. After flowering, in autumn, snapdragons are cut off, leaving a stump of about 5 cm, mulched - then, perhaps, the plant will overwinter.
12. If there is no desire to save for the next season, or in your region there are too severe winters that the plants are guaranteed not to survive, the seed arrows are cut off in time to avoid self-sowing (this is also important when collecting seeds - not to let them fall), they dig up the site, all plant remains burn.

Growing seedlings from seeds

Snapdragon seeds remain viable for several years. As a rule, in the middle lane it is grown in seedlings, the plant is cold-resistant, it tolerates a night drop in temperature well, but it cannot afford return frosts.

How to grow from seed? Follow this simple guide:

1. Sowing at the beginning of March.
2. Pour drainage into the container, then compact the soil mixed with sand, moisten with a spray bottle.
3. Mix antirrinum seeds with sand and spread over the surface, press lightly. You can sprinkle the seeds with a thin layer of soil.
4. Cover with glass. Put in a place with a temperature of about 23 ºC.
5. Ventilate daily. Remove excess moisture from the glass.
6. After 2 weeks, sprouts will appear.
7. Rearrange to a bright place, but free from direct sunlight.
8. The glass is removed when all the seeds have sprouted.

seedling care

At first, it does not grow very quickly, crops should be moderately moistened, avoiding excess moisture (otherwise there is a risk that the snapdragon seedlings will die from the “black leg”). The fallen sprouts, most likely, have already been affected, it is recommended to remove them, sprinkle the place of their growth with crushed coal.

Seedlings dive when the second true leaf appears, dive into seedling boxes, or into separate pots of several pieces. They are placed in a bright place, gradually accustomed to fresh air, opening, for example, a window (you just need to make sure that tender young plants do not stand in a direct draft). When the fifth leaf appears, the central shoot is pinched, if the lateral ones grow too “briskly”, pinch them too.

Ready seedlings are planted in boxes on the balcony or in open ground in mid-late May, maintaining a distance of 15 cm (dwarf), 20-30 cm (medium-sized varieties), 40-50 cm (tall and giants).

Sowing in open ground is also possible, plants germinate in 2-3 weeks.

Application in the garden

This is an excellent border culture, if you need to create a border for a mixborder, a border, a line along the path - you will not find a brighter plant. Can be good in group plantings, goes well with lawns. It is planted in balcony boxes, containers, planters. Decorate them with loggias and.