Fun Facts About Snapdragons

The Snapdragon gets its name from the fact that the flowers look like the head of the mythical creature. However, the actual scientific name in Greek means “nose-like.”

In the Victorian language of flowers, a bouquet that contained these flowers would convey that you were telling the truth.

According to European folklore, stepping on this flower has the power to break black magic spells.

There was also once a game named after it. The game was popular in the 16th century in England, Canada, and the United States. It was most commonly played during Christmas Eve. It involved a handful of raisins, a cast-iron skillet, a bottle of brandy, and a match. In order to play one would place the raisins into the skillet. Then pour a large quantity of brandy over the raisins. Light the brandy with the match and it would produce a blue flame. The goal of the game was to snatch the raisins out of the fire and then eat them. The fun that our ancestors had was to watch their friends get a little burnt. According to an article in Richard Steele's Tatler magazine, "the wantonness of the thing was to see each other look like a demon, as we burnt ourselves, and snatched out the fruit."

Planting Requirements For Snapdragons

Light: Snapdragons do best in full sun — at least six hours of direct sunlight per day

Soil: They prefer rich, well-drained soil with a pH of 5.5–5.8. If necessary, amend poor soils with an application of organic matter, such as compost.

Spacing: Snapdragons usually grow between 3 to 4 feet tall. They'll need at least 6–12 inches of spacing when you plant them.

Planting Time: The best time to start Snapdragon seeds indoors is about six to ten weeks before the last frost in spring. The reason is that Snapdragons are slow-starters that germinate best in cool temperatures. Although best indoors, some gardeners have good luck planting snapdragon seeds directly in the garden.

Zones: Depending on the species you can plant them between zones 5-11

Time of Bloom: They start blooming in early spring, and keep blooming all season long.