Snapdragon Planting Guide
Snapdragons (Antirrhinum majus) are classic cool-season annuals whose upright spikes of dragon-lipped flowers are among spring's most dramatic displays. Tolerating light frosts, they bloom from early spring until summer heat shuts them down — then often revive in fall. In zones 9-11 they are grown as fall-planted winter annuals and may re-seed to naturalize.
Antirrhinum majus · Flower · Plantaginaceae family · 70–100 days to maturity
Why it matters: If you're just starting a flower garden in your area, Snapdragon is a forgiving first pick. It tolerates imperfect soil, mild drought, and the occasional missed watering. The reward: weeks (sometimes months) of continuous color.
Get Your Personalized Snapdragon Planting Dates
Enter your ZIP code to see exact planting dates, soil compatibility, and growing tips specific to your county.
Where Can You Grow Snapdragon?
Snapdragon Growing Regions
Click any state to see the Snapdragon planting schedule for that location.
Planting Dates by Zone
| Zone | Start Indoors | Direct Sow | Transplant | Bloom |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 2a | Mar 7 | — | May 30 | Aug 8 – Sep 19 |
| Zone 2b | Feb 27 | — | May 22 | Jul 31 – Sep 11 |
| Zone 3a | Feb 20 | — | May 15 | Jul 24 – Sep 11 |
| Zone 3b | Feb 22 | — | May 10 | Jul 19 – Sep 6 |
| Zone 4a | Feb 18 | — | May 6 | Jul 15 – Sep 9 |
| Zone 4b | Feb 20 | — | May 1 | Jul 10 – Sep 4 |
| Zone 5a | Feb 14 | Apr 11 | Apr 25 | Jul 4 – Sep 5 |
| Zone 5b | Feb 7 | Apr 4 | Apr 18 | Jun 27 – Sep 5 |
| Zone 6a | Jan 30 | Mar 20 | Apr 10 | Jun 19 – Aug 28 |
| Zone 6b | Jan 23 | Mar 13 | Apr 3 | Jun 12 – Aug 28 |
| Zone 7a | Jan 14 | Feb 25 | Mar 25 | Jun 3 – Aug 26 |
| Zone 7b | Jan 7 | Feb 18 | Mar 11 | May 20 – Aug 26 |
| Zone 8a | Dec 28 | Feb 1 | Feb 22 | May 3 – Aug 23 |
| Zone 8b | Dec 17 | Jan 14 | Feb 4 | Apr 15 – Aug 19 |
| Zone 9a | — | Dec 16 | Jan 13 | Mar 17 – Jul 14 |
| Zone 9b | — | Nov 23 | Dec 21 | Feb 22 – Jul 5 |
| Zone 10a | — | Oct 23 | Nov 20 | Jan 22 – Jun 18 |
| Zone 10b | — | Oct 16 | Nov 13 | Jan 15 – Jun 25 |
| Zone 11a | — | Oct 9 | Nov 6 | Jan 1 – Jun 18 |
| Zone 11b | — | Oct 2 | Oct 30 | Dec 25 – Jun 11 |
How to Plant Snapdragon
Growing Conditions
☀️ Sun
Full Sun (6-8+ hours)
💧 Water
Moderate — regular watering
Water when the top inch of soil feels dry. Consistent moisture produces the best results.
🧪 Soil pH
6.2 – 7
Prefers neutral to slightly acidic soil — ideal for most garden beds.
🗺️ Hardiness Zones
Zone 2a – 11b
📅 Days to Maturity
70–100 days
Medium-season crop. Start early for best results in shorter seasons.
👪 Plant Family
Plantaginaceae
Rotate with other families yearly to prevent soil-borne diseases. Don't plant in the same spot where Plantaginaceae family crops grew last year.
Succession Planting Snapdragon
Snapdragon matures in just 70–100 days, making it ideal for succession planting. In a typical 180-day growing season, you can get up to 2 successive plantings by sowing every 8 weeks.
Your actual succession count depends on your local frost dates. Enter your ZIP code to get personalized succession planting dates for your area.
Companion Planting for Snapdragon
✅ Good Companions
Check more combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →
Growing Tips for Snapdragon
Start indoors 10-12 weeks before last frost; seeds need light to germinate — press into moist medium and do not cover. Transplant after hardening off, even if light frosts remain. Pinch seedlings once to encourage branching. Deadhead to prolong blooming. In zones 8-11, sow in fall for a winter-to-spring show. Tall varieties (24-36") make excellent cut flowers.
Saving Snapdragon Seeds
Recommended for Your Garden
Start seeds indoors with reusable cell trays and humidity domes.
Test your soil pH, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium levels before planting.
Keep your garden organized with durable, weather-resistant plant labels.
Seed Saving & Storage Guide
Most saved seeds go bad before next season. This shows exactly when to pick, how to dry, and where to store seeds from 200 plants so yours don't.
- 200 plants, step-by-step: life cycle, pollination type, isolation
- Exact temperature + humidity ranges that keep seeds viable
- Bonus: searchable Google Sheets tracker + custom GPT assistant
Snapdragon by State
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to grow Snapdragon?
Snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus) takes 70 to 100 days from planting to harvest. Exact timing depends on your variety, growing conditions, and USDA zone.
What zones can Snapdragon grow in?
Snapdragon can be grown in USDA zones 2a through 11b. Use the planting calendar above to find the exact dates for your zone.
How much sun does Snapdragon need?
Growing Snapdragon requires Full Sun (6-8+ hours), Moderate — regular watering, and soil pH of 6.2 to 7.