by Kelly Szymanski

Created on: July 03, 2009

If you are looking to add a classic, wonderfully fragrant flower to your sunny garden make room for some Snapdragons. Their colorful name comes from the fact that their blooms resemble jaws that, when gently squeezed, look like a dragon's open mouth. In ancient times, Snapdragons were thought to have magical powers. If you give them a try, they may work their magic on you. You'll wonder why you never grew them before.

Prepare the area where you will be planting your snapdragons by digging in at least two inches of compost. Rake the area smooth. Be sure your chosen site is sunny and has well drained soil.

Buy young plants that have not started blooming. Look for plants that have shiny healthy leaves and no signs of rust or aphids. You can plant your snapdragons before the last frost. They like the cooler weather, and blooming may slow down during the heat of summer. If that happens, cut them back to about a height of 4 inches and feed with a liquid fertilizer. They will resume blooming when the weather starts to turn cooler.

Snapdragons don't like overly wet soil. A layer of mulch will help keep the soil evenly moist between waterings and also keep the soil temperature down.

Snapdragons bloom on top of attractive dark green foliage that grows between 6 inches and 3 feet. Stake taller varieties when they are young to keep them growing straight and tall. Snapdragons are available in a variety of colors: pink, red, yellow, orange and white. If you live in a hot climate, consider the more heat-tolerant 'Tahiti'. 'Sonnet Mix' is a mid-sized variety, growing 1 1/2 to 2 feet tall. The 'Rocket Series' is the tallest variety growing about 3 feet in height.

Because of their variety of colors and sizes, they go well in many different parts of the garden. They look great planted in mass along borders and walkways. They also mix well with other plants, such as Nicotiana, Pansies and Canterbury Bells. They will also do well in containers and window boxes.

Snapdragons can sometimes be bothered by rust, a fungal disease that looks like brown spots on the leaves. To help avoid rust, avoid getting the leaves wet when you water. Plant them far enough apart that air can circulate a bit. Aphids can also sometimes become a problem. Aphids are tiny insects that come in a variety of colors and will destroy your beautiful flowers if not dealt with. A strong spray from a garden hose will often do the trick. If not, you may have to resort to a chemical insecticide.

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