Snapdragon Cherry Twist Seeds - Antirrhinum x majus

Known in gardens since 1583, Antirrhinum majus was a favourite in monastery and clergy gardens. This plant from the family of Scrophulariaceae originates from the western Mediterranean Basin, where it grows among rocks on the arid slopes of the South of France, up to Lozère and Aveyron. One can even find plants rooted in the mortar of old walls protecting gardens. The variety 'Cherry Twist' stands out for the originality of its flowers. This short-lived perennial forms a clump of 60 cm in height by 40 cm in width in the year following its sowing. Its erect, simple or branched stems are covered with opposite or alternate, lanceolate or linear-lanceolate, entire, glabrous leaves of a beautiful deep green hue. Flowering occurs from May-June to September. 'Cherry Twist' offers well-built spikes densely covered with classic tubular flowers. The slightly scented flowers are popular with pollinating insects. Snapdragons readily self-seed in the garden, in light soil, but not always true to the mother plant.

Snapdragons emit a gentle fragrance that wafts when one approaches to smell their velvety petals up close. These plants are ideal for any gardener, fitting easily in borders, beds, or even rockeries. In regions north of the Loire and on heavy soils, it is advisable to grow them as annuals, which matters little given their generosity. Larger varieties, such as 'Cherry Twist', are excellent for use as cut flowers and pair well with wild gardens, scented gardens, or cottage-style gardens. For a captivating visual effect, plant them with Love-in-a-Mist Nigella, cosmos, annual poppies, or alongside bushy perennials like fennel, Senecio vira-vira, and asters, or subtle-hued undershrubs like mugworts, euphorbias, and Thymus hirsutus.

The snapdragon earns its vernacular name from the particular shape of its flowers, which, when pinched, resemble mouths.

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