majus Antirrhinum Dazzling Lips Pink

The Antirrhinum majus Dazzling Lips® Pink is a cultivar of snapdragon selected for its early and generous flowering, consisting of large, fragrant flowers, in a range of pink to white. The sturdy stems of this snapdragon are appreciated in the garden as well as in a vase. In addition to its ornamental qualities, it is also a plant that is highly attractive to pollinating insects. It is a rather compact variety, well-perpetual, and well-suited to pot cultivation.

Known in gardens since 1583, the Antirrhinum majus was a favored host in monastery and clergy gardens. This plant, belonging to the Plantaginaceae family, is native to the western Mediterranean basin, where it grows between rocks on the arid slopes of the Midi. In France, it can be found as far as Lozère and Aveyron. There are even plants rooted in the mortar of old walls protecting gardens. Contrary to popular belief, wild snapdragon species as well as certain varieties are perfectly perennial if provided with poor, sandy, rocky soil in full sun, sheltered from cold winds.

The 'Dazzling Lips Pink' snapdragon is a recent selection, part of a series of hybrids (the 'Dazzling Lips') selected for their early, perpetual flowering, large and fragrant flowers, carried by strong stems. It is more biennial than perennial, rarely living for more than two years. In the year following planting, it forms a clump of approximately 50-55 cm (20-22in) in height and 30-40 cm (12-16in) in width. Its upright, sturdy stems are covered in opposite or alternate, lanceolate, entire, glabrous leaves of a medium green colour. These leaves will persist on the plant if the winter is mild. The flowering renews from May-June to September-October, in successive waves. 'Pink' offers solidly built spikes, bearing large tubular-based flowers with undulating lobes. The petals display a fresh pink colour that becomes almost white near the throat. They are highly visited by bumblebees and butterflies. Snapdragons readily self-sow in the garden, in light soil, but not always faithfully compared to the mother plant.

Snapdragons are part of our childhood memories. With their small velvety snout that emits a fragrance when you bury your nose in the flowers, they are plants accessible to all gardeners, easy to install in borders, beds, or containers. In northern regions of the UK and in heavy soil, treat them as annuals, which is of little importance considering their generosity. Large varieties such as 'Dazzling Lips' are perfect for cut flowers, flowering containers, or cottage gardens. For example, associate them with love-in-a-mist, perennial flax, and valerians (Centranthus ruber). Their flower spikes are well highlighted when emerging among bushy perennials like aster cordifolius or ground cover roses, cotton lavenders, 'Powis Castle' artemisias. Once the plant is established and to prolong its flowering, you can regularly remove faded flowers.

Snapdragons get their vernacular name from the particular shape of their flowers, which, when pinched, resemble mouths.