17 Stunning Snapdragon Varieties that Show Off in Fall
We love snapdragons for the cutting garden, flower beds, containers, and more. These fun and frilly flowers are stars of the cool season. Join cut flower gardener Melissa Strauss to look at some stunning varieties of delightful snapdragons.
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I’ve been growing snapdragons in my cutting garden for about four years now, and I’ll never go back. These wonderful flowers are my absolute favorites for spring bouquets for several reasons. First, if you cut them at the right time, they have an exceptional vase life. They also fill out a bouquet beautifully. I can’t think of another flower that does it quite as well.
Snapdragons are easy to grow and care for. In mild climates, you plant them in the fall, and they grow throughout the winter, tolerating temperatures as low as the low 20s without flinching. They bloom early in the spring this way, and continue to bloom until mid-summer. In cooler climates, you can grow them in the fall from nursery starts, and they will last well into the cooler months. The foliage is more cold-hardy than the blooms, but even the flowers are frost-tolerant.
For me, in zone 9, they rarely last through the hottest part of summer. However, they are technically perennials in zones 7-10, so it’s not impossible to keep them going; it just takes some effort. Planting in partial shade in the warmer reaches of these zones will help them thrive when temperatures rise. In zones 5 and 6, they will also act as perennials, but die back in the winter.
I’ve found that while those directly sown in the garden are sturdier, it’s quite difficult to get them to germinate this way. The seeds are tiny and easily dislodged simply by watering. They require light to germinate, so you have to surface sow, and that makes it tough. In seed trays, they germinate in about a week, and usually have a decent rate.
Once you get them going in the fall, they need little attention. Pinch them at about three to four inches tall, and they will branch beautifully. Cut them regularly for tons of flowers throughout the season, or deadhead if you’re growing them as ornamentals.
Here are some of my favorite fall snapdragon varieties for your spring garden.
‘Black Prince’

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botanical name Antirrhinum majus ‘Black Prince’ |
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sun requirements Full sun |
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height 12”-18” |
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hardiness zones 7-11 |
If dark and moody is your preference, ‘Black Prince’ is one of the must-grow snapdragon varieties in fall. This is a shorter variety, so while it’s fine for cutting, it’s better for ornamental use. It’s a perfect selection for any goth garden. The dark foliage is unique and strikes a stunning contrast to other members of the flower bed.
The blooms are bountiful, as most snapdragons are. These are the richest shades of blood red to garnet. Their petals are lightly ruffled and have a velvety quality. Snapdragons are surprisingly fragrant, and these have a light scent reminiscent of cinnamon. Because they are a shorter variety, they are ideal for fall as they mature faster.
‘Appleblossom’

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botanical name Antirrhinum majus ‘Appleblossom’ |
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sun requirements Full sun |
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height 30”- 36” |
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hardiness zones 7-11 |
For the most captivating display of sweet, pink snapdragons, plant ‘Appleblossom’ this fall. I’m working on these for my cutting garden this year, and I can’t wait for them to mature! They’re a tall variety, which makes them ideal for bouquets. These are from the ‘Potomac™’ collection, the rest of which are also lovely.
This variety has soft pink blooms with a yellow throat that warms them up just a touch. The flower spikes are large and lush. Some will have more apricot tones, and others may be a lighter, blush tone. These have a noteworthy fragrance.
‘Night and Day’

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botanical name Antirrhinum majus ‘Night and Day’ |
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sun requirements Full sun |
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height 18” |
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hardiness zones 7-11 |
‘Night and Day’ is an Epic favorite snapdragon, and it’s not hard to see why. This spicy-scented cousin of ‘Black Prince’ has a lot in common with its relative, but with a striking variation. The velvety red blossoms have a creamy white lower jaw.
The white stands in stark contrast and is intensified in the fall when the foliage deepens as the temperatures drop. It turns deep burgundy, creating depth in your beds and bouquets. These are mid-height fall snapdragon varieties, growing to about 18″, so they are suitable for beds and cutting.
‘Bronze Dragon’

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botanical name Antirrhinum majus ‘Bronze Dragon’ |
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sun requirements Full sun |
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height 12”-16” |
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hardiness zones 7-11 |
‘Bronze Dragon’ is one of the more compact snapdragon varieties, perfect for fall planting if you want faster flowering. These are great for warmer climates. The bronze epithet refers not to the flowers, but the foliage. Dark and dreamy, the stems and leaves are bronze with a hint of purple.
This variety has bi-colored blossoms. They’re a pale, soft shade of lavender with an orchid purple lower jaw. The pale flowers make an interesting contrast to the deep, dark foliage. Their shorter stature makes them great for container growing.
‘Cherry Twist’

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botanical name Antirrhinum majus ‘Cherry Twist’ |
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sun requirements Full sun |
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height 20”-24” |
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hardiness zones 7-10 |
Plant ‘Cherry Twist’ this fall for an explosion of award-winning color in your flower beds. This taller snapdragon variety is ideal for cutting, with sturdy stems and large flower spikes. The foliage is bright green, and the blooms are tri-colored. They’re gorgeous in bouquets.
‘Cherry Twist’ has large blossoms. The base color is creamy white, and accents of cerise and yellow make them pop in the garden. Fragrant and beautiful, snapdragon flowers are also edible and add a wow factor to salads and as a garnish on cold dishes.
‘Madame Butterfly Red’

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botanical name Antirrhinum majus ‘Madame Butterfly Red’ |
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sun requirements Full sun |
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height 28”-36” |
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hardiness zones 7-10 |
‘Madame Butterfly Red’ and the entire Madame Butterfly series are azalea-type fall snapdragon varieties. They have double-petaled blooms that are full of ruffles and fluffy texture. They have nice, tall stems, which make them excellent for the cutting garden.
I can’t stress enough just how stunning these blooms are; you’ve got to see them for yourself. The entire series is breathtaking, but if I had to choose just one, this is it. The flowers are the perfect, rich, cool, blue-red.
‘Potomac™ Lavender’

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botanical name Antirrhinum majus ‘Potomac™ Lavender’ |
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sun requirements Full sun |
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height 32”-48” |
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hardiness zones 7-10 |
This stunning snapdragon variety is a perfect one for the cut flower grower. ‘Potomac™ Lavender’ grows up to four feet tall with lovely, straight, strong stems to hold up giant flower spikes. They’re breathtaking and can easily stand alone in a floral arrangement.
‘Potomac™ Lavender’ has large, soft, lavender blossoms with just a hint of warm, yellow glow from the center. They are fluffly and absolutely divine. Bright green foliage is the perfect complement to the beautiful purple blooms. Plant these in the fall for early spring flowers.
‘Rembrandt’

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botanical name Antirrhinum majus ‘Rembrandt’ |
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sun requirements Full sun |
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height Up to 3’ |
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hardiness zones 7-10 |
These next two fall snapdragon varieties are similar, and it’s because I simply couldn’t choose between them. I’ve grown the second one, but this one just caught my attention and I had to share it! ‘Rembrandt’ is a medium to tall variety that’s good for the cutting garden.
‘Rembrandt’ has multi-colored flowers and a painterly effect, so they differ from one plant to another. The colors are bright, bold orange, coral, yellow, and white. Some are lighter than others. They truly are a masterpiece worthy of their prestigious name.
‘Orange Wonder’

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botanical name Antirrhinum majus ‘Orange Wonder’ |
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sun requirements Full sun |
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height 28”-36” |
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hardiness zones 7-10 |
‘Orange Wonder’ is a favorite snapdragon that I grow every year. They are reliable, tall (but not too tall), and absolutely gorgeous. They’re slightly more muted than ‘Rembrandt’ in a wonderful way. They have a soft, pink undertone to the orange flowers with a warm glow from inside the jaws.
Their height makes these easy to grow without support. The stems are sturdy and curve slightly downward when first cut, but they perk up quickly. I highly recommend planting this variety in the fall for incredible spring bouquets.
‘Snowflake’

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botanical name Antirrhinum majus ‘Snowflake’ |
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sun requirements Full sun |
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height 2’-3’ |
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hardiness zones 7-10 |
‘Snowflake’ is a beautiful, pristine white snapdragon variety to plant in fall for a spring bloom. These would make a spectacular bridal bouquet with their large, fluffy flower spikes. The blooms have just a faint green undertone, which ties the flowers to the foliage nicely.
For these larger fall snapdragon varieties, planting now may not mean flowers, but you’ll have strong, well-adapted plants come spring, and they will produce larger, more floriferous flower spikes as a result.
‘Maryland Lavender’

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botanical name Antirrhinum majus ‘Maryland Lavender’ |
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sun requirements Full sun |
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height 3’-4′ |
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hardiness zones 7-10 |
‘Maryland Lavender’ is another variety in this wonderful color. I love lavender for its ability to cross over from a cool color palette to a warm one. This flower is not quite pink, but not quite purple either. I would call it a blushing lavender.
This is also an extra-tall variety, so it needs plenty of time to get adjusted if you want strong stems in the spring. Fall planting makes this possible. Cool weather produces thicker, longer stems. This is an amazing addition to the cutting garden.
‘Potomac™ Royal’

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botanical name Antirrhinum majus ‘Potomac™ Royal’ |
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sun requirements Full sun |
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height 32”-48” |
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hardiness zones 7-10 |
It’s difficult not to exclaim over every snapdragon variety I see. They simply are one of the most beautiful flowers around. They’re a childhood favorite that I’ve only grown to love more after growing them. ‘Potomac™ Royal’ is a stunning pink variety with flowers that are incredibly bold, but with a refinement that is undeniable.
‘Potomac™ Royal’ is part of the Potomac™ series. These are bred for their long stems and ability to thrive in warmer temperatures. This vibrant rose-pink variety is in a category all its own. A bouquet of these needs no fillers; it can stand on its own perfectly well.
‘Chantilly™ Purple’

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botanical name Antirrhinum majus ‘Chantilly™ Purple’ |
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sun requirements Full sun |
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height 28”-36” |
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hardiness zones 7-10 |
This comes from another well-known series of fall snapdragon varieties. The Chantilly™ series is known for its flower form, which is open-faced. This unique trait reveals the small yellow stamens in the center that are typically occluded.
‘Chantilly™ Purple’ has magenta flowers with ruffled, frilly edges. Their open form gives them a different, perhaps bolder, personality. I think they resemble small gladiolus. They are medium height and lovely for cutting. Start in the fall for stronger, longer stems.
‘La Bella™ Red’

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botanical name Antirrhinum majus ‘La Bella™ Red’ |
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sun requirements Full sun |
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height 18” |
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hardiness zones 7-10 |
The La Bella™ series is another group of snapdragon varieties for fall that are open-faced. Their dragon mouths don’t snap, but remain open, which gives them a slightly more vicious look in my opinion. This makes the pollen more visible, which is good for pollinators.
‘La Bella™ Red’ is a richly saturated scarlet. The petals are ruffled on the rather substantial flower spikes. This series is also known for being exceptionally fragrant, which is always a plus in the cutting garden. They only grow to about 18 inches, so make sure not to wait; plant these in the fall so they can reach their full potential.
‘Legend Double Pink’

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botanical name Antirrhinum majus ‘Legend Double Pink’ |
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sun requirements Full sun |
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height Up to 51” |
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hardiness zones 7-10 |
The Legend Double series is a collection of fall snapdragon varieties with tall, sturdy stems and double blooms. They’re also known for their extended vase life, so they’re excellent for cutting. These are best for fall planting, as they prefer cool weather to achieve their full, impressive height.
‘Legend Double Pink’ has bubblegum pink, wonderfully fluffy, and ruffled blossoms. They look like tiny roses. This is a fast grower and long bloomer. They are attractive to pollinators, as all varieties are, especially bumblebees, which like to sleep in them.
‘Defiance’

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botanical name Antirrhinum majus ‘Defiance’ |
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sun requirements Full sun |
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height Up to 36” |
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hardiness zones 7-10 |
‘Defiance’ is a beauty; this snapdragon variety is one of the richest reds around. The pure crimson blossoms have a glowy, velvet quality. They have an excellent fragrance and tall stems ideal for snipping. These are more heat-tolerant and will bloom from spring through fall.
‘Snaptini™ Peach’

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botanical name Antirrhinum majus ‘Snaptini™ Peach’ |
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sun requirements Full sun |
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height 6”-8” |
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hardiness zones 7-10 |
Snaptini™ is a series of dwarf snapdragon varieties that are great for the front of the border or container gardening. They’re bred for high-density production in containers and have a strong central leader and good branching.
I love the color of ‘Snaptini™ Peach.’ It reminds me of a smaller, softer version of ‘Orange Wonder.’ The flowers have a yellow tint when they first open and then mellow and darken to a coral-peach shade. The blooms are densely packed for a neat, well-tended look.
