Overwintering Snapdragons: Tips for Cold Climates

Snapdragons (Antirrhinum) come in many heights and hardiness levels. Whether they return next spring depends on your climate, the specific variety, and how you protect them.

Assessing Your Snapdragons

Taller varieties are sometimes more perennial in mild zones, but most garden snapdragons are grown as annuals. Without knowing the exact cultivar and your hardiness zone, it's hard to predict survival.

Protection Strategies

In-ground with mulch: After the ground freezes (November–December in many areas), apply a loose mulch of straw, pine boughs, or shredded leaves around plants. Avoid heavy materials that mat down and smother crowns.

Container overwintering: Dig plants and pot them in well-draining mix. Keep outdoors until nights consistently drop into the 30s°F, then move to an unheated garage or shed. Water sparingly every 2–3 weeks—just enough to prevent complete desiccation.

Indoor growing: Possible but challenging. Snapdragons are prone to aphids and whiteflies indoors and need very bright light to avoid legginess.

Realistic Expectations

If plants were inexpensive, many gardeners simply leave them in place and hope for spring volunteers from self-sown seeds. Snapdragons often reseed readily in favorable spots. For guaranteed results, plan to purchase or start new plants each spring.