Yesterday we started adding color to our Second Spring garden with pansies and violas.
Today we're going... ๐๐! โฌ๏ธ๐ธ
Because one of the tricks to creating a beautiful container is having plants at different heights.
And today's flower can give us exactly that.
Meet the wonderfully colorful...
๐ธ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐!
Snapdragons produce tall spikes covered with flowers in shades of:
โค๏ธ Red
๐ฉท Pink
๐ Yellow
๐งก Orange
๐ค White
๐ Purple
๐ธ And all sorts of beautiful combinations in between.
But before we talk about growing them...
We need to answer the question every childโand quite a few adultsโeventually asks:
๐ฒ ๐๐ก๐ฒ ๐ข๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฐ๐จ๐ซ๐ฅ๐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐?
๐ ๐๐จ ๐๐ก๐๐๐...๐๐ช๐ฎ๐๐๐ณ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐
๐ฅ๐จ๐ฐ๐๐ซ!
Take an individual snapdragon flower and gently squeeze the sides near its base.
If you find just the right spot...
๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ฅ๐จ๐ฐ๐๐ซ'๐ฌ "๐ฆ๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ๐ก" ๐จ๐ฉ๐๐ง๐ฌ!
Release it... and the mouth closes again.
It looks a little like a tiny dragon opening and closing its jaws.
Hence: ๐๐๐๐ + ๐๐๐๐๐๐. ๐ฒ๐ธ
If you have grandchildren nearby, you now have approximately 15 minutes of free entertainment.
You're welcome. ๐
๐ ๐๐ง๐๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐๐ ๐จ๐ง๐ฌ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐จ๐จ๐ฅ๐๐ซ ๐๐๐๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ
Here's why they belong in our Second Spring garden.
Snapdragons are ๐๐จ๐จ๐ฅ-๐ฌ๐๐๐ฌ๐จ๐ง ๐๐ฅ๐จ๐ฐ๐๐ซ๐ฌ.
They often struggle or slow down during intense summer heat, particularly in warmer climates.
But when temperatures begin cooling?
They can put on a beautiful show.
That's why you may see garden centers filling back up with snapdragons as fall approaches.
While some summer flowers are preparing to call it quits...
Snapdragons may be saying: "๐
๐ข๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฒ. ๐๐ฒ ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ง." ๐ธ
โ๏ธ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ก๐๐ฒ'๐ซ๐ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ ๐ก๐๐ซ ๐๐ก๐๐ง ๐๐ก๐๐ฒ ๐๐จ๐จ๐ค
Those flowers look delicate.
The plants aren't nearly as fragile as they appear.
Established snapdragons can tolerate chilly temperatures and light frost.
Exactly how long they'll continue blooming depends on your climate, variety, and weather conditions.
In mild climates, they can perform for a surprisingly long time.
In colder climates, they'll eventually encounter temperatures that are simply too severe.
But either way... They can extend the flower season considerably beyond many heat-loving annuals.
๐คฏ ๐๐๐ซ๐'๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ...
Snapdragons aren't always annuals!
They're actually short-lived perennials in some warmer climates.
In colder regions, they're commonly grown as annuals because they don't reliably survive harsh winters.
And this is one of those reminders that we've talked about throughout Second Spring:
๐ ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ญ'๐ฌ ๐๐๐ก๐๐ฏ๐ข๐จ๐ซ ๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ง๐๐ฌ ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ญ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐จ๐ง ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ง.
That's why two PGS members can grow the exact same plant and have completely different experiences.
One gardener says: "๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐!"
Another says: "๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐." ๐
Both may be right.
๐ชด ๐๐ง๐๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐๐ ๐จ๐ง๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ฑ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ญ๐๐ข๐ง๐๐ซ ๐๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ฌ
Here's where things get really fun.
Snapdragons come in different sizes.
Depending on the variety, you may find:
๐ธ ๐๐ฐ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐ญ๐ข๐๐ฌ โ wonderful near the front of containers
๐ธ ๐๐๐๐ข๐ฎ๐ฆ ๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐ญ๐ข๐๐ฌ - great all-purpose container plants
๐ธ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐ญ๐ข๐๐ฌ โ dramatic vertical accents and excellent cut flowers
So before you buy...
๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐!
That adorable six-inch plant at the garden center might eventually become considerably taller than you expected.
Plants are sneaky that way. ๐
๐ชด ๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐๐ข๐ ๐๐ก๐จ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ญ๐๐ข๐ง๐๐ซ ๐๐?
For a small group of snapdragons, look for a container roughly:
๐โ๐๐ ๐ข๐ง๐๐ก๐๐ฌ ๐๐๐๐ฉ ๐จ๐ซ ๐ฆ๐จ๐ซ๐, depending on the mature size of the variety and how many plants you're growing.
Larger and taller varieties will appreciate more root space and a wider, heavier container that won't tip easily.
As always:
โ๏ธ Use quality potting mix.
โ๏ธ Make sure there are drainage holes.
โ๏ธ Give each plant enough room to mature.
Don't cram twelve plants into a container because they're cute and tiny today.
Remember...
๐๐ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ง๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐ข๐ญ'๐ฌ ๐ ๐จ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐๐๐๐๐.
โ๏ธ ๐๐ข๐ฏ๐ ๐๐ก๐๐ฆ ๐๐ฎ๐ง๐ฌ๐ก๐ข๐ง๐
Snapdragons generally bloom best with plenty of light.
Aim for:
โ๏ธ ๐๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐+ ๐ก๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ฌ ๐จ๐ ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ง
During lingering hot weather, some afternoon protection can help.
As fall temperatures become cooler, a sunny location becomes ideal.
๐ง ๐๐๐๐ฉ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ง๐ญ
Snapdragons prefer reasonably consistent moisture while actively growing.
Don't let the container repeatedly become bone dry.
But... You already know what's coming.
๐๐๐'๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐. ๐
Good drainage remains one of the most important rules of container gardening.
Water the soil rather than constantly soaking the foliage, and give plants enough air circulation around them.
โ๏ธ ๐๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐๐๐ ๐
๐ฅ๐จ๐ฐ๐๐ซ๐ฌ?
Then don't be afraid to remove the old ones.
As a flower spike begins fading, cutting it back can encourage the plant to put energy into additional growth and blooms rather than seed production.
So add snapdragons to our:
โ๏ธ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐!
Pansies.
Violas.
Snapdragons.
A few minutes spent removing tired blooms can help keep your fall flower containers looking fresh.
๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ง'๐ญ ๐
๐จ๐ซ๐ ๐๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฌ๐!
Tall snapdragons make wonderful cut flowers.
If you've grown a taller variety, bring a few stems inside.
One of the wonderful things about growing flowers in containers is that you don't need a huge cutting garden to enjoy homegrown bouquets.
A few tall snapdragons...
Some greenery...
Maybe another flower or two...
And suddenly you've got a little bouquet from your patio.
๐๐ฆ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ-๐ฌ๐ฉ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ง๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ง ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ ๐ฏ๐๐ฌ๐. ๐ธ๐
๐ ๐๐ก๐จ ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ข๐ญ๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐๐ ๐จ๐ง๐ฌ?
Here's another fascinating thing about those unusual flowers.
Because the flower has that closed "mouth," not every pollinator can easily get inside.
Strong pollinatorsโespecially bumblebeesโare particularly good at pushing their way into snapdragon flowers to reach the nectar and pollen.
Imagine watching a big fuzzy bumblebee forcing its way inside that little dragon mouth.
The flower practically has a:
"๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐" ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐. ๐๐
Keep an eye on your plants and see who visits.
๐จ ๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐๐๐ญ'๐ฌ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐
๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ญ๐๐ข๐ง๐๐ซ!
Remember yesterday when we talked about combining edible plants and flowers?
Today we're adding another design principle: ๐๐๐๐๐T.
Try this combination:
๐ธ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐
Toward the back or center: ๐ธ ๐๐ง๐๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐๐ ๐จ๐ง๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ก๐๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ
In the middle: ๐ฅฌ ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐จ๐ซ๐๐ฎ๐ฅ ๐๐ฐ๐ข๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐๐ก๐๐ซ๐ ๐จ๐ซ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐๐๐ญ ๐ค๐๐ฅ๐
Around the front: ๐ธ ๐๐๐ง๐ฌ๐ข๐๐ฌ ๐จ๐ซ ๐ฏ๐ข๐จ๐ฅ๐๐ฌ
Now look what we've created:
โฌ๏ธ Height
๐ฟ Texture
๐ Color
๐ฅฌ Edible foliage
๐ธ Flowers
Instead of everything sitting at exactly the same level, your eye moves through the entire arrangement.
That's one of the secrets behind those beautiful containers you see at garden centers.
๐ธ ๐๐๐ฆ๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ซ: ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐
๐๐๐๐๐ & ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
You may have heard this container-design formula before:
๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
Something taller and dramatic.
Hello, snapdragons! ๐๐ธ
๐ฟ ๐
๐๐๐๐๐
Plants that fill the middle of the container.
Maybe kale, parsley, or another compact flower.
๐ฑ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
Something that trails over the edge.
We'll talk more about possibilities for this as we continue our flower series.
But suddenly we're not just planting things in pots.
We're actually...
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐.
That's a whole different level of fun.
๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ญ๐๐ข๐ง๐๐ซ ๐๐๐ซ๐๐๐ง ๐๐ฎ๐ข๐๐ค ๐
๐๐๐ญ๐ฌ
๐ชด ๐๐จ๐ง๐ญ๐๐ข๐ง๐๐ซ ๐๐๐ฉ๐ญ๐ก: About 8โ12+ inches depending on variety
โ๏ธ ๐๐ฎ๐ง: Approximately 6+ hours
๐ง๐๐๐ญ๐๐ซ: Consistent moisture with good drainage
๐ธ ๐๐ฅ๐จ๐จ๐ฆ ๐๐๐๐ฌ๐จ๐ง: Best during cooler weather
โ๏ธ ๐๐๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐๐ง๐๐ง๐๐: Deadhead faded flower spikes to encourage continued blooming
๐ ๐๐๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ: Varies dramaticallyโalways check the variety
โ๏ธ ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐: Handles chilly weather and light frost
๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ฎ๐ฌ: Taller varieties make excellent cut flowers
๐ ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐๐ญ๐จ๐ซ: Particularly attractive to bumblebees
๐ ๐๐ซ๐จ ๐๐ข๐ฉ: ๐๐ง๐จ๐ฐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ ๐๐๐
๐๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ฎ ๐๐ฎ๐ฒ
I can't emphasize this one enough.
Don't buy a snapdragon simply because you like the flower color.
Turn the tag over.
Look for:
๐ Mature height
โ๏ธ Light requirements
โ๏ธ Mature spread
Some snapdragons stay compact.
Others can become several feet tall.
Neither one is better.
But they serve completely different purposes in a container.
Choose the plant for the JOB you want it to do.
๐ฑ ๐๐จ๐๐๐ฒ'๐ฌ ๐๐ก๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ ๐
We're going to play container designer today!
Choose one pot you already have.
Now imagine THREE levels:
โฌ๏ธ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ
๐ฟ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฆ๐๐๐ข๐ฎ๐ฆ
โฌ๏ธ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฅ๐จ๐ฐ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ ๐
You don't have to plant it today.
Just start thinking about your containers in layers rather than individual plants.
And if you've already created a Thriller-Filler-Spiller container...
โฌ๏ธ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐! ๐ธ
I have a feeling there are some beautiful ones hiding in this community.
๐ฌ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐
๐๐๐ ๐๐๐
First...
๐ฒ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ค๐ง๐จ๐ฐ ๐ฐ๐ก๐ฒ ๐ฌ๐ง๐๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐๐ ๐จ๐ง๐ฌ ๐ฐ๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ฌ๐ง๐๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐๐ ๐จ๐ง๐ฌ?
And more importantly...
๐๐ข๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ข๐ฆ๐ฆ๐๐๐ข๐๐ญ๐๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐ ๐จ ๐ฌ๐ช๐ฎ๐๐๐ณ๐ ๐จ๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ซ ๐ซ๐๐๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ? ๐
But here's today's bigger question:
๐ธ ๐๐ก๐๐ญ'๐ฌ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ฏ๐จ๐ซ๐ข๐ญ๐ ๐ฌ๐ง๐๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐๐ ๐จ๐ง ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐จ๐ซ?
๐ฉท Pink
โค๏ธ Red
๐ Yellow
๐งก Orange
๐ค White
๐ Purple
๐ Give me ALL the colors!
And if you've grown snapdragons before, tell our newer gardeners:
๐๐ข๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ฌ ๐๐ฅ๐จ๐จ๐ฆ ๐๐๐ญ๐ญ๐๐ซ ๐ข๐ง ๐ฌ๐ฉ๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ , ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐๐ซ, ๐จ๐ซ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ?
Don't forget to tell us roughly what part of the country or world you garden in.
It'll be interesting to see how different our experiences are!
๐ฑ ๐๐๐ซ๐๐๐ง ๐๐ข๐ฉ
Beautiful containers don't necessarily require exotic plants or complicated designs.
Sometimes all that's missing is: ๐๐๐๐๐๐.
If every plant in your container grows six inches tall, your eye sees one flat layer.
Add something vertical and suddenly the entire arrangement changes.
So when you're planning your next container, don't just ask:
"๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ฌ ๐๐จ ๐ ๐ฅ๐ข๐ค๐?"
Also ask:
"๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐๐๐ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐๐๐๐ก ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐จ?"
Something tall.
Something full.
Something low.
Something trailing.
And before you know it...
You're not filling flowerpots anymore.
๐๐จ๐ฎ'๐ซ๐ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ข๐ ๐ง๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ง๐ฌ ๐ข๐ง ๐ฆ๐ข๐ง๐ข๐๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐. ๐ธ๐ชด๐
๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ฑ๐ญ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐๐๐จ๐ง๐ ๐๐ฉ๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ ...
Tomorrow's flower may look sweet and delicate..
But don't underestimate it.
It's fragrant.
It's colorful.
It's wonderful in containers.
And depending on the variety, it may stick around longer than you expect.
๐ธ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐!
But there's something else interesting about this flower.
Lean in and smell one.
You may detect a fragrance you weren't expecting from a flower... ๐๐๐๐๐๐! ๐ฒ๐ธ
Tomorrow we'll find out why dianthus has been charming gardeners for generations.