The snapdragon is a cottage-garden favourite named for its dragon-like flowers, which open and close their “jaws” when gently squeezed. Its tall spikes of blooms in almost every color make it a charming cut flower and border plant.
Snapdragon at a glance
- Botanical name: Antirrhinum majus
- Family: Plantaginaceae
- Bloom season: spring and fall (cool season)
- Symbolism: grace, strength, and playful deception
About the snapdragon
Snapdragons produce upright spikes lined with pouched, two-lipped flowers that children love to snap open. They thrive in cool weather, flowering in spring and again in fall, and come in heights from dwarf edging types to tall cutting varieties. Technically short-lived perennials, they’re usually grown as annuals.
Snapdragon meaning and symbolism
The snapdragon symbolizes grace and inner strength, but also carries an older meaning of deception or mystery, tied to its hidden, snapping flowers.
Types of snapdragon
Popular varieties worth knowing:
- Tall (Rocket, Madame Butterfly) — for cutting and the back of borders
- Medium — all-purpose garden types
- Dwarf — compact edging and container plants
- Trailing — for hanging baskets
How to grow and care for snapdragon
A few essentials keep this flower thriving:
- Grow in full sun with well-drained, fertile soil
- Plant in cool weather; snapdragons dislike summer heat
- Pinch young plants to encourage bushiness
- Deadhead spent spikes for a second flush
- Treat as an annual, though they may overwinter in mild climates
Snapdragon FAQs
Why are they called snapdragons?
The flowers resemble a dragon’s face, and when you gently squeeze the sides, the bloom opens and closes like a snapping mouth — hence the name.
When do snapdragons bloom?
Snapdragons bloom in the cool weather of spring and fall. In hot summers they often pause, then flower again as temperatures drop.
Are snapdragons perennials?
Snapdragons are technically short-lived perennials but are usually grown as annuals. In mild-winter climates they may survive and rebloom the following year.
Explore more
Browse more flower profiles, learn about flower meanings, or find your birth flower.