How to Grow Snapdragons in Canada:
Snapdragons (Antirrhinum majus) add whimsical charm to Canadian gardens, from spring through fall.
Easy to grow, colourful and long-blooming, snapdragons are as versatile in flower beds as they are in container designs.
Snapdragons a good plant to introduce children to gardening.
Snapdragons with their dragon-shaped florets—squeeze to "snap" — make delightful puppets for children and nostalgic gardeners alike.
I did most of the planting while the kids put on their puppet shows with lots of giggles. :)
How to Grow Snapdragons in Canada:
Snapdragons are cool-season annuals that thrive in most Canadian climates, especially Zones 3-8.
Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your last frost date, or direct sow in early spring.
They are good self-seeders as well. In some warmer Zones, they come back from the roots in the spring.
If your snapdragons are looking a little "leggy" snip them back and start the cuttings in soil for more snapdragon plants.
They do prefer full sun and well-draining soil.
Soil pH for Snapdragons:
Snapdragons like a slightly acidic to neutral soil pH between 6.2 and 7.0.
Use compost or peat moss to adjust pH as needed.
Fertilizer Tips:
Feed snapdragons with a balanced 10-10-10 fertilizer every 4-6 weeks.
For container plants, consider a liquid feed every 2-3 weeks. Over-fertilizing can lead to more foliage than blooms, so go easy.
Do snapdragons self-seed?
Yes! In milder zones, snapdragons can self-seed if spent flowers are left on the plant.
I planted mine once and they pop-up wherever they want. :)
Saving snapdragon seeds:
Let flowers fully dry on the stalk, then pinch seed pods into a paper bag.
Or just put whole dry seed stalk with the seed pods in the paper bag and enough dry seeds will fall out without having to crush the seed pods.
Store seeds in a cool, dry place over winter. Label with variety and date.
Snapdragons pair beautifully with:
- • Pansies and violas (cool-season bloomers)
- • Dusty miller (silver-grey contrasting foliage)
- • Salvia and cosmos (height and pollinators)
- • Sweet alyssum (fragrant low-growing filler) They attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.
Ideal Container Soil Mix for Snapdragons:
Basic Mix (DIY) - coming next week
Questions and Answers for Snapdragons:
Do snapdragons survive frost in Canada?
Yes - I am in zone6 and sometimes they come back in the spring and are short-lived perennials in Zone 7+.Snapdragon blooming season in Canada?
Snapdragons are a cool season flower, so they will generally bloom in the spring, slow down in the summer and start again in the fall.Deadheading snapdragons: Does it help?
Yes! Deadheading encourages re-blooming by cutting back spent spikes and keeps the plant tidy.Pollinator benefits:
Snapdragons attract bees, bumblebees and hummingbirds.Snapdragon colours and heights?
Colours? - they come in all colours imaginable - except for blue. :)Snapdragons come in short and tall varieties.
I use the "tall snapdragons" for vertical interest in the garden.
"Short snapdragons" for edging or wherever they pop-up.
Are snapdragons poisonous to pets or kids?
They're generally non-toxic, but not edible.Overwintering snapdragons in containers?
This I have never done, because it's easy to grow snapdragons from seed and cuttings.I suppose if you have a favourite variety of snapdragons that you really want to keep, you can bring it indoors and take cuttings during the winter.
I do this with geraniums.