Re: Perennial Snapdragons
- To:
- Subject: Re: Perennial Snapdragons
- From: M* T*
- Date: Fri, 28 Jan 2000 00:42:30 -0500
Checked their website - http://www.whiteflowerfarm.com/ - which, BTW,
has improved no end since I was there last....they seem to have their
catalog up and before only offered assorted collections.
Anyway, they are offering the following:
Antirrhinum braun-blanquetii
Antirrhinum hispanicum
Antirrhinum molle
I haven't grown any of these, but a quick web search reveals that A.
braun-blanquetii and A. hispanicum are listed on the NARGS seed list
- which only lists perennials plants, no annuals - so that indicates
to me they are perennial. A German gene bank site listing of
several species of Antirrhinum indicates that both of these are
native to Spain.
http://fox-serv.ipk-gatersleben.de/sbot.htm
Chiltern Seeds (great seed co. BTW) http://www.chilternseeds.co.uk/
lists A. braun blanquetii and says this about it - copied and
pasted, stuff in parentheses is my comment - "With a name like that,
one should not be surprised that this species appears to be almost
unknown. It is in fact a rather nice perennial from the top left-hand
corner of Spain. An upright, branching plant, it bears from April to
October spikes up to 8 ins. long of large, yellow-throated, cream
flowers. 2-4 ft. Hardy (meaning hardy in the UK which is mostly USDA
zone 8 with some 7) Perennial Price:- £1.74" (for a packet). They
ship seeds to the USA, no problem.
Avant Gardens - http://www.avantgardensne.com/rock/alchem.htm lists
A. hispanicum as a rock garden plant...says "A small creeping
Snapdragon for the rockery with soft succulent gray-green foliage and
pink flowers in summer. 10" x 12" in a sunny well drained soil." -
price is $5.00 each.
A. molle is listed hardy to z 7 in Wyman (who can be a tad
conservative in zone listings). Says the common name is Pyrenees
Snapdragon and it's native to Southern France. He says it's a
shrublike perennial that must be protected in northern US in
winter...
MSU Extension page says this (copied and pasted) about A. Molle:
http://www.msue.msu.edu/msue/imp/modop/00002094.html
"Hardiness Zones: 5 to 8
Height: 10 in Spacing: 18 in
Type: perennial
Flowers: White
Comments: This low-growing perennial is a suitable choice
for the rock garden. The flowers are white with a yellow
throat. Provide a sunny growing area, somewhat on the dry
side. The foliage is grayish-green. The plant is native
to Spain and Portugal. "
The annual snapdragon is A. majus. I've had them overwinter in mild
winters when planted in protected spots in the garden, but it's
unusual, not usual.
Based on the above, I'd say what WWF is offering are perennials.
Now, whether they are really suited to the general sunny border, and
not a more specialized "rock garden" environment, I don't know. I do
note that WWF says A. braun-blanquetii has a lax and informal habit.
I translate this to mean they tend to flop:-)
Whether they are actually going to be hardy in z. 6....who knows, but
seems A. Molle has the best chance if you have suitable conditions
for it. Heck, I'd try whichever one took my fancy the most. Nothing
ventured, nothing gained.
I have my doubts about "all summer" flowering....very few perennials
flower all summer in my climate, even if they're supposed to - maybe
in yours - but should be good for at least a couple of weeks and if
you're lucky a month and if *real* lucky longer:-)
Well, that's all I've been able to find out about these guys....
Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
mtalt@clark.net
Editor: Gardening in Shade
current article :What's in a Name? Taxonomy
http://suite101.com/welcome.cfm/222
All garden topics welcome page:
http://suite101.com/category.cfm/gardening
----------
> From: Moorman@teamzeon.com
> Date: Thursday, January 27, 2000 2:09 PM
>
>
> Hi, all! I've been checking out the latest White Flower Farm
catalog and
> have noticed that they are offering snapdragons that behave as if
they were
> perennial. I don't have the catalog handy, so I can't give you all
the
> botanical name, but perhaps someone else knows what I'm referring
to.
>
> My question: are they REALLY perennial (in my zone 6)? If so, how
long
> does the bloom last and when does it occur? I'm eyeing the red and
orange
> variety in hopes that the hummers will enjoy them as much as I hope
to.
> Furthermore, is there another nursery that offers them, because as
we all
> know, WFF can be a little pricey.
>
>
>
---------------------------------------------------------------------
> To sign-off this list, send email to majordomo@mallorn.com with the
> message text UNSUBSCRIBE PERENNIALS
---------------------------------------------------------------------
To sign-off this list, send email to majordomo@mallorn.com with the
message text UNSUBSCRIBE PERENNIALS
