Antirrhinum braun-blanquetti – Snapdragon

Description

Antirrhinum – Snapdragon The Greek called them Antirrhinon nose like, in France they are gueule de loup, wolf’s mouth, in Germany and Italian the name means lion’s mouth.  There are about 40 species of annuals, perennials, and semi-evergreen sub shrubs from mainly rocky sites in Europe, the U.S. and Northern Africa, in this genus.  Grown for their broadly tubular 2-lipped flowers with a characteristic hairy palate on the lower lip, which are produced from the leaf axils or in terminal racemes from early summer to autumn.  The leaves are borne on branching stems are linear-lance shaped to egg shape and sometimes glandular.  Shrubby perennial species are great for rock gardens or in retaining wall.  The most widely grown snapdragon is Antirrhinum majus and it is a short lived perennial usually grown as an annual. Antirrhinum majus needs fertile, sharply drained soil in full sun.  Dead head to prolong flowering.  Shrubby perennial species needs well-drained soil and shelter from wind; they are extremely brittle and sensitive to winter moisture. Prone to gray mold, many fungal leaf spots (frogeye), rust, root rot caused by Pythium and Phytophora, seed-borne downy mildew, fungal wilt diseases, Southern blight, aphids, and leaf miners. Antirrhinum braun-blanquetti – This erect branched perennial derives from Portugal and Spain grows 2-4’ feet tall and spreads to 12-24” wide.  It produces hairless stems and narrowly rounded pointed leaves 1-2 ½” long.  From spring to autumn it bears spikes 8” long of large downy, 5 to 30 creamy white flowers with yellow throats. Zones 8-10