How to Grow Snapdragons
Antirrhinum majus
Cool-season spires of jewel-toned blooms that shrug off light frost.
By the Plants by Zone Editorial Team · Reviewed June 1, 2026
About snapdragons
Snapdragons are cool-season annuals grown for their tall spikes of hinged, “snapping” blooms in nearly every color. They thrive in the cool of spring and fall and tolerate light frost, often fading in midsummer heat and reviving as it cools. Started early and pinched, they make superb, long-lasting cut flowers.
When to plant and harvest snapdragons
Timing is relative to your frost dates. Find your USDA zone for exact dates, or browse the month-by-month calendars.
Start seeds indoors
8–10 weeks before last frost
Transplant outdoors
2–4 weeks before last frost (frost-tolerant)
Direct sow
Possible but slow; transplants are more reliable
Harvest
Spring and fall
How to grow snapdragons step by step
- 1
Start seeds early indoors, pressing them onto the surface since they need light to germinate.
- 2
Harden off and transplant a few weeks before the last frost — young snapdragons take light frost.
- 3
Pinch the growing tips when plants are a few inches tall for bushier, multi-stemmed plants.
- 4
Keep evenly moist and feed lightly for strong flower spikes.
- 5
Cut or deadhead spent spikes to push a second flush of bloom.
- 6
In hot climates, expect a summer lull and a fall revival as temperatures drop.
Common problems growing snapdragons
⚠ Tall, single-stemmed, floppy plants
Pinch young plants to force branching, and stake the tallest cut-flower varieties.
⚠ Plants stall in summer
Snapdragons are cool-season — they often pause in heat and rebloom in fall; cut them back and wait.
⚠ Rust (orange spots on leaves)
Choose rust-resistant varieties, water at the base, and rotate planting spots each year.
✗ Keep away from
🧺 Harvesting snapdragons
Cut spikes for the vase when the bottom third of the florets are open — the rest open in water for days of bloom. Regular cutting and deadheading keeps plants producing, and a midsummer trim often brings a fresh fall flush.
Snapdragons: frequently asked questions
Can snapdragons survive frost?＋
Yes — they’re cool-season plants that tolerate light frost, so they can go out weeks before the last frost and often bloom into fall.
Why did my snapdragons stop blooming in summer?＋
Heat makes them pause. Cut them back and keep them watered, and they’ll usually flush again with fresh blooms once the weather cools in fall.
Grow snapdragons in your zone
See exactly when to plant and what else to grow alongside snapdragons, tailored to your USDA hardiness zone.
When to plant snapdragons by zone:
