Antirrinum, or snapdragon - an unusual beautiful plant, whose name comes from the Greek "anti" and "rhinos" - "like a nose." Snapdragon refers to the annual herbaceous plants. It has branched stems that form pyramidal bushes.
Height varies depending on the type and ranges from 25 to 90 cm and above. Large double-lipped flowers are collected in fragrant racemes, different coloring - from white, yellow to pink, dark red and even blue, depending on the variety.
The fruit of antirrhinum is a multi-seeded two-nested box. The inflorescences of the lion's pharynx strike with a bizarre form, therefore it is considered one of the most beautiful annual flowers. In England, the snapdragon has the most interesting name - the biting dragon; in france is the wolf's mouth. Ukrainians gently styled his lips or mouths. Other popular names are also common - the dragon's mouth, flowers, dogs, faces of a lion.
Did you know? The legend of the origin of the flower snapdragon is very exciting. In Nemeisky forest of ancient Greece, there lived a terrible monster - a huge bloodthirsty lion, who attacked people every day and ate them. Many brave warriors tried to kill him, but neither their spears, nor arrows, nor sharp swords could damage the skin of a lion and injure him. The almighty goddess Hera decided to take pity on mere mortals and sent them to help Hercules. The warrior tracked down and killed the fierce beast, strangling him. This was the first feat of Hercules. Flora, the goddess of flowers, found out about this victory and created a new flower in honor of Hercules, which resembled an open lion's mouth, which she called the "snapdragon." Since then, this flower has traditionally been given to winners and heroes.
Selection of antirrinum first engaged in engaged in the XIX century in Germany. Since then, scientists have deduced more than 1000 varieties of this plant, the diversity of forms and colors of which can be talked about endlessly. For every professional and amateur gardener, there is an opportunity to choose the look of a snapdragon for your color and taste: from low-growing varieties to meter-long giant flowers.
In professional floriculture, there are several classifications of snapdragon. The simplest is by the height of plants, which consists of 5 groups: gigantic, tall, half-tall (medium tall), low and dwarf. In addition to this classification, there is also the common demand for Sanderson and Martin, which is used for varieties for cutting the year-round cycle. However, this classification is more suitable for those who grow the snapdragon, not for aesthetic pleasure, but for commercial purposes.
Did you know? Antirrinum has medicinal properties. When diseases of the liver and gastrointestinal tract drink tea from snapdragon. Tincture of the flowers take headache pain, shortness of breath, dropsy. The outdoor plant helps to fight hemorrhoids, boils, boils, various sounds, and eye diseases.
Dwarf (15-20 cm)
The plants of the lion's pharynx dwarf group reach a height of 15-20 cm. These flowers are well suited for growing in pots, as well as decorating borders, carpet flower beds, alpine slides. Bushes plants with numerous shoots, strongly branching. The main shoot of these varieties is usually lower than the shoots of the second order, or is flush with them. Inflorescences are short, no more than 8-10 cm, small flowers. The most common varieties of dwarf snapdragon: "Tom Tumb", "Floral", "The Hobbit."
- Snapdragon "Tom Tumb" - This is a compact bush plant, reaching a height of up to 20 cm, spherical shape. It has thin shoots and large lanceolate leaves. Differs dense, short, few-flowered inflorescences. The flowers are bright yellow, have dark yellow specks. This is an early variety that blooms from mid-June and blooms until September.
- "Floral" ("Floral") - Quite an interesting variety of dwarf antirrinum. It has a compact bush form, differ in lush, uniform flowering and a variety of colors. The variety has about 13 variations of colors, both monophonic and two-color. Spectacular doggie flowers" Flora varieties are planted to create different color compositions on the site, and also grown in pots.
- varietal group "Hobbit" (Hobbit) also has a variety of colors. Such plants look good on flowerbeds, as well as suitable for planting in containers, they allow you to focus on the colorful and colorful flower arrangement. Flowers varieties "The Hobbit" can have any color: from white, yellow and pink to red, maroon and purple.
Low (25-40 cm)
Anti-rinums of this group reach a height of 25 to 40 cm and are grown as flowers for a flower bed or curb flowers. They have many flowering shoots of order II and III, but the main shoot is at the same level or lower than shoots of order I. The number of flowers in the inflorescence is less than that of high and medium-sized varieties. The inflorescences of low varieties are "loose", less blooming than the dwarf varieties. Also, low varieties differ in early and middle flowering periods. Examples of varieties:
- "Crimson Velvet" - bush plant up to 35 cm high, many-leaved. The shoots are dark green with a red tint, the leaves are also dark green, large. It has large multi-flowered inflorescences of medium density. The flowers are medium, velvety, dark red. This is the latest variety among the lowest species, it blooms from mid-July until almost frost.
- Schneeflocke - compact bush plant, reaching a height of 25-35 cm. Gustovetvistoe, hemispherical shape, with thin shoots and numerous leaves. The leaves are small, green, have a lanceolate and elongate-lanceolate form. Inflorescences few-flowered with small white flowers. Early variety, blooms from early June and blooms through October. Seeds "Schneeflokke" ripen poorly.
- Group of varieties "Crown" ("Crown") - The height of the shoots reaches 35 cm. Flowers look great on flowerbeds, in containers, as well as in hanging flower baskets. For mass decorative gardening of flower beds, the indicator of the duration of the plant development period from sowing seed of lion's pharynx for seedlings to flowering is extremely important. Varieties "Crown" have the shortest period of development. Very popular today is the variety "Crown light mauvе", which appeared on the market in 1999. The variety has a beautiful gentle lilac, turning into purple flowers.
Did you know? In medieval Germany, the antirrinum was considered the best remedy against witchcraft, so people prepared sacks of dried flowers and wore them around their necks as a talisman. In the East, the decoction of the plant was mixed with lily oil and used as a cosmetic. It was believed that you need to lubricate the face with such a cream in order to please everyone.
Half high (40-60 cm)
Semi-high or medium antirrhinums reach 40-60 cm in height. They are distinguished by the fact that their central shoot is slightly higher than the side shoots, as well as by strong branching. The number of flowers in the inflorescence is slightly less than that of high varieties. This group has varieties of different flowering times. The semi-tall ones are universal varieties of snapdragon, grown both as a flowerbed decoration and for cutting. Examples of varieties:
- "Wild Rose" ("Wildrose") - The plant is up to 40 cm high, has loose inflorescences reaching a height of 20 cm. The flowers are large, of a beautiful pure pink color. The variety has an average flowering period.
- "Golden Monarch" - Cluster semi-sprawling plant, 50-55 cm tall. It has strong shoots and large green leaves. Inflorescences dense, many-flowered, flowers are large, fragrant, lemon and yellow. This is a late variety of snapdragon, which blooms from July until almost frost.
- "Defiance" - compact bush plant, has the shape of a narrow pyramid or column and reaches a height of 45-55 cm. The shoots are strong, slightly curved, the leaves are broad, lanceolate, green with a bronze tint. Inflorescences, rare, few-flowered, unevenly colored. Flowers are large, yellow-orange or red-orange with lilac subton. This is an early variety of snapdragon, which blooms from June until almost frost.
- "Liebesglut" - semi-sprawling bush plant, 50-60 cm tall. It has strong shoots and large dark green leaves. Multi-flowered inflorescences, flowers of medium size, dark red, cherry color. This is an early variety that blooms from mid-June and almost to frost. Seeds are distinguished by good ripening.
- "Red Chief" ("Red chief") - compact bush plant about 45-55 cm high, densely leafy. The shoots are dark green, strong, leaves are wide, elongate-lanceolate. Inflorescences of medium density, flowers are large, velvety, dark red, do not fade in the sun. It is a variety of medium flowering, blooming at the end of June.
High (60-90 cm)
The lion's mouth tall is grown for cutting or as a vertical emphasis in group ornamental plantations. Plants reach a height of 60 to 90 cm, their side shoots are much lower than the central one. Have compact weakly branching bushes. Inflorescences many-flowered and very large. Tall varieties are a week or more in the cut. The most fragrant - varieties of yellow shades. Examples of varieties:
- "Brilliantrosa" (Brilliantrosa) - bush plant of narrow pyramidal shape, 70-80 cm high. Shoots are straight, strong, leaves are large, green, lance-shaped. The inflorescences are broad, medium density, the flowers are large, very fragrant, bright pink color. This is an early variety that blooms from mid-June and blooms until frost. Seeds ripen well.
- lion's mouth "Alaska" ("Alaska") - This plant reaches a height of 60 cm, and has a very weak branching. The flowers are white, the inflorescences reach a height of 25 cm. This is an average rust resistant variety in terms of flowering.
- "Velvet Giant" - bush plant of narrow pyramidal shape, 70-85 cm high. Shoots are straight, strong, leaves are large, dark green with a burgundy shade, lanceolate shape. Inflorescences of medium density. Flowers are large, dark purple-red, very fragrant. This is an early variety that blooms from mid-June and blooms until frost. Seeds ripen well.
- snapdragon "Vulcan" ("Vulcan") - bush plant of narrow pyramidal shape not more than 75 cm high. Shoots are straight, durable, leaves are green, large, lanceolate or broadly oval. The flowers are large, very fragrant, from light yellow to dark yellow, ocher. Inflorescences of medium density. This is an early variety that blooms from mid-June and blooms until frost.
- "Tip-top" ("Tip-top") - The flowers of this variety are mostly pale pink with an unusual bright yellow edging. However, this group is also characterized by a different color range of inflorescences. The shoots of the plant reach a height of 80 cm. Growing this variety of snapdragon is possible both for cutting and for decorating flower beds and borders.
Giant (90 and up)
The highest varieties of snapdragon, reaching a height of 90 to 130 cm. The central shoot in such varieties is much higher than the shoots of II order, while the shoots of III order are absent. These giant flowers are grown mainly for cutting. Popular varieties:
- "Rose" ("The Rose") - A very beautiful variety of antirrhinum. It is characterized by soft pink satin flowers, an ideal classical form, which are perfectly combined with other plants. This variety is recommended for making unique floral compositions in flowerbeds. Shoots of plants reach a height of 100 cm, sometimes slightly lower.
- a series of varieties "Rocket" ("Rocket"), the most popular among the tall, giving a first-class cut. Variety "Rocket" has several variations, named after the shades of inflorescences. "Rocket lemon" - the most unusual color of flowers for snapdragon, white with a delicate greenish-yellow tinge. Also the classic colors of this variety "Rocket golden" ("Rocket golden") - yellow; "Rocket bronze" - salmon-pink with a soft orange shade and small yellow specks, and "Cherry" ("Cherry improved") - red-pink. Another interesting view of the Rocket Orchid’s gigantic snapdragon is characterized by unusual lavender and blue colors. The stems of this variety reach a height of 1 m.
Also well-known varieties: "Arthur" - up to 95 cm tall with cherry-colored flowers and "F1 red XL", "F1 pink XL" - respectively, red and pink color, which reach shoots up to 110 cm high
Important! When disembarking antirrinum it is worth remembering that this is a very poisonous plant for pets.
