Growing Antirrhinum (Perennial Snapdragon)

Pronunciation: an-tihr-rye'-num

Perennial snapdragons (Antirrhinum) bring shrubby structure and colorful spikes to sunny, well-drained gardens. Unlike their annual cousins, these develop woody bases and return year after year with minimal care.

Growing Conditions

• Sun: Full sun.
• Soil: Well-drained; tolerates poor, rocky soil.
• Water: Drought tolerant once established. Water regularly first season.
• Hardiness: Typically zones 7–10; may survive colder with protection.

Care Tips

• Establishment: Needs 1–2 years to settle in. Be patient.
• Pruning: Leave standing through fall. In spring, prune back to new growth to maintain shape and encourage blooming.
• Habit: Shrubby, woody base with herbaceous flowering stems.

Design Uses

Plant in rock gardens, Mediterranean borders, or dry slopes. Combine with lavender, rosemary, and salvia for a fragrant, drought-tolerant display. The snapdragon flowers attract hummingbirds and bees.

With sun, drainage, and time, perennial snapdragons become long-lived garden anchors.