A once much loved conservatory and cool greenhouse plant this is long overdue for a comeback. Though the Latin name has always been a hindrance as near comical and an unwelcome challenge in any spelling contest- Antirrhinum.
This Snapdragon, A. majus, is surprisingly a native and one of our most gorgeous though seldom seen in the wild unlike its near cousin Linaria Toadflax. Both have similar pouched blooms, the Snapdragon epithet because if you squeeze the flower the dragon-like jaws open, whereas closed it’s definitely snout like, thus the Latin name rrhinum for nose.
A hardy perennial forming a small bush, almost shrubby much like a Wallflower, this is regularly in garden displays but people seem to have forgotten Antirrhinum can be had in bloom almost year round. Indeed strains were developed just for winter colour though these are now hard to find. Even so just by growing successive batches under cover you can have Snapdragons in every season with only the winter ones needing any warmth.
Snapdragons are bright, cheerful, complex almost orchid like blooms on generous spires. Most have a spicy musk like perfume particularly on warm days and strongly so in some varieties. These last well with old blooms dropping as new open and can even be taken for cut flowers, almost year round.
They’re not difficult as to compost, moderate sun or shade, even surviving neglect well. However preferring dry sunny sites in nature this plant does not like to be water-logged but otherwise it’s a tough survivor. Not even prone to pests or diseases (other than Rust which rarely appears under cover), though naturally the usual troublemakers may appear these seldom do much damage. If this were newly discovered Antirrhinum would be vaunted as a miracle plant. I’m amazed it’s not also eaten somewhere but you can’t have everything.
To add to the mystery, although there are some choice strains usually propagated by cuttings, many brilliant varieties can be grown nearly true from inexpensive seed. And rapidly thus this perennial can be treated as an annual with batches thrown away replaced by newer more vigorous ones. Or old plants can be revived with a trim and feed. Plus if a particular plant shows promise it can be so easily multiplied and saved by cuttings.
Anyway when you fall for this beauty there are two dozen species and varieties currently available, though sadly not many of those Paxton listed in 1868.