Snapdragon Mango Twist Seeds - Antirrhinum x majus

Known in gardens since 1583, Antirrhinum majus was a favoured guest in monastery and clergy gardens. This plant from the scrophulariaceae family originates from the western Mediterranean Basin, where it grows among rocks on the arid hillsides of the South of France, reaching up to Lozère and Aveyron. Plants can even be found rooted in the mortar of old walls protecting gardens. The variety 'Mango 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 upright, simple or branching 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. 'Mango Twist' produces sturdy spikes densely covered with classic tubular flowers. The slightly scented flowers attract many pollinating insects. Snapdragons readily self-seed in light soil but not always true to the mother plant.

Snapdragons emit a gentle fragrance that is released when approaching to smell their velvety petals up close. These plants are perfect for any gardener, fitting easily in borders, beds, or even rock gardens. In regions north of the Loire and on heavy soils, it is advisable to grow them as annuals, which doesn't matter much considering their generosity. Larger varieties, such as 'Mango Twist', are excellent as cut flowers and work well in wild gardens, scented gardens, or cottage-style gardens. For a captivating visual effect, plant them with Love-in-a-Mist, cosmos, annual poppies or alongside bushy perennials like fennel, Senecio vira-vira, and asters, or discreetly coloured undershrubs like mugworts, euphorbias, and hairy thyme.

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

Attention, 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.