Description
The snapdragon is an annual from southern Europe and North Africa. It has upright stems 20 to 80 cm long and lance-shaped, entire leaves. The flowers have a characteristic structure: the corolla is fused for half its length and then divides into two lips – a broad, clearly two-part upper lip and an inflated, raised lower lip. The individual flowers are gathered in dense racemes at the top of the stem. They come in many colours – from white through various shades of yellow, orange, salmon, pink and red to burgundy – and are sometimes two-coloured or multicoloured.
The snapdragon flowers in July and August. How it is used depends on its height. Dwarf varieties are suitable for carpet bedding, edging, balcony boxes and containers. Medium varieties can be planted in borders, while tall varieties are best as cut flowers.
Requirements
It needs fertile, humus-rich, moist soil in a sunny position.
Propagation
It is propagated by seed sown in trays from February to early April and kept in a warm room.
Care
The seedlings grow slowly. To get large, strong plants, prick out the seedlings, for example into peat pots. The plants can be planted out in early to mid-May. Depending on their height, space them 15–20 x 30 cm apart.