Antirrhinum x majus Maximum - tall mix

Antirrhinum majus 'Maximum mix' is a mix of tall snapdragons, reaching a height of 80 cm (32in). It offers a wide range of flowers in vibrant colours, ranging from white to pink, red, yellow, purple, and blue. These plants provide abundant flowering that lasts from summer to autumn. Their sturdy spikes are covered with large snapdragon-shaped flowers, creating a magnificent display of colours in the garden. Snapdragons are highly tolerant plants and can self-seed even in unexpected places. They are exceptionally heat resistant and thrive particularly well in full sun. To grow them, it is recommended to sow them in well-prepared, fertile, and well-draining soil. Whether they are annual or perennial plants depends on the climatic conditions and the type of soil they are planted in.

Antirrhinum majus, also known as Snapdragons, is a perennial plant of the Scrophulariaceae family, just like Foxgloves and Diascias. In our gardens, it is usually cultivated as an annual or biennial. Native to the western Mediterranean basin, it grows spontaneously in arid conditions, between rocks. Snapdragons get their vernacular name from the particular shape of their flowers, which, when pinched, resemble open mouths.

Once cultivated for cut flower production, the 'Maximum' variety stands out for its tall stature, abundance of flowers, and vibrant colours. Each plant quickly forms a dense clump of about 70 to 80 cm (28 to 32in) in height and 30 to 40 cm (12 to 16in) in width from the first year of sowing. The stems of Antirrhinum majus 'Maximum' are upright and can be single or branched. They are adorned with opposite or alternate lanceolate or lanceolate-linear leaves, smooth and of a deep green colour. The flowering period extends from June-July to the first frosts in September-October. The flower spikes are dense, sturdy, and abundantly covered with large, brightly coloured flowers, highly appreciated by bumblebees and butterflies. Snapdragons have the ability to self-seed easily in the garden, especially in light soil, but they do not always reproduce the characteristics of the parent plant faithfully.

Snapdragons often evoke childhood memories. Their small velvety flowers emit a pleasant fragrance when approached. These plants are accessible to all gardeners and can be easily integrated into borders, flower beds, or rockeries. In cooler regions and in clay soils, it is recommended to grow Snapdragons as annuals, but this does not diminish their generosity. Larger varieties, such as 'Maximum', are ideal for flower bouquets, wild gardens, scented gardens, or English gardens. To create beautiful landscape compositions, you can combine them with Damascus Nigellas, Cosmos, or annual poppies. Their flowering spikes stand out beautifully when emerging among bushy perennials such as fennel, cardoons, or artichokes, asters and perennial chrysanthemums. You can also combine them with low shrubs in more subdued colors such as lavender, cotton lavender, or mugwort... To prolong the plant's flowering, it is recommended to regularly remove faded flowers.

Caution: Seeds reserved for highly experienced gardeners accustomed to sowing very fine seeds. These seeds are as fine as dust, barely visible to the naked eye.