Snapdragons, a 'new favorite'

Zinnias have long been a favorite in my annual flower garden, but recently I have had good luck growing another "tried and true" flower, the Antirrhinum majus, or Snapdragon. The Latin name is quite descriptive: anti meaning "like" and rhin referring to "nose" or "snout", as in rhinoceros. If the sides of the snapdragon flower are gently squeezed, the flower will open, revealing a "mouth" and a long "tongue", like a tiny dragon! Fun in the garden! In Germany, the flower is known as "Lowenmaulchen", meaning "little lion's mouth", and in France it is "gueule de loup", or "wolf's mouth". Back in Victorian days, snapdragons represented admiration and respect. Even today, for many Europeans, snapdragons are associated with remembrance and respect and are often used as funeral bouquets. Snapdragons seem to have originated as wildflowers in the southern Mediterranean region, where they are winter annuals. The seeds germinate in the fall, the plant grows through the winter, with blooms appearing in the spring. Here in our area, of course, snapdragons are summer annuals. To start the plants indoors, the seeds should be planted indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last spring frost - late February or early March here in northern Ohio. The seeds need light to germinate; a temperature of 60 to 70 degrees F in best for germination, which usually occurs in 10 to 14 days. The young plants grow well in cool weather and can be planted outdoors in the garden after the last spring frost. Snapdragons prefer full sun and well-drained, light soil, high in organic matter. My own snapdragons re-seeded themselves this past spring in my garden, re-appearing in various places! Snapdragons belong to the Plantaginaceae family, along with foxglove and speedwell, or veronica. Snapdragon colors include reds, pinks, yellows, maroons, and white, and some are even variegated. Snapdragons vary from short enough--dwarf--to be a kind of bedding plant, up to 18 inches tall, with very showy flower spikes. Snapdragons have been cultivated for their ornamental value since the 1700s. They have no medicinal value; they are not poisonous to humans or to dog, cats, or horses. In fact, the blooms are edible, although rather bitter. Most of the snapdragon hybrids we know today were developed by breeders in the 20th century, using the principles developed by Gregor Mendel of sweet pea "fame". Mendel did grow snapdragons in his Brno, Germany, gardens. Charles Darwin experimented with snapdragons, too, which are very easy to breed. Darwin was interested in finding out how particular characteristics of the flower were inherited from generation to generation. During the early years of the 20th century, at the John Innes Center in Norwich, England, one of the world's leading plant breeding research institutions, scientists developed many unusual snapdragon strains, including "variegation", referring to striped blotchy colored petals. Fast forward to the 1990s, plant biologist Enrico Coen and his technician Rosemary Carpenter actually pinned down the particular genes responsible for making the intricate shapes and colors of the snapdragon flower. And the genetic research continues on, with modern mathematical modelling and computers. Bees, and in particular bumblebees, are attracted to snapdragons because of their vibrant colors, and because of the flower's unique tubular shape. The snapdragon provides bees with both nectar and pollen. Bees have been buzzing around my snapdragons all summer! This year I seeded "Circus Clown" and "Topper Hybrid" snapdragons indoors in early March and planted them out in the garden in early June. They have been excellent flowers for cutting and are still in full bloom. A couple years ago, I picked up a few snapdragon seedlings at the annual Erie County Master Gardeners Plant Sale in early May. Those were my first tall snapdragons. Now they are right up there as my favorites along with my zinnias!