Srubh lao
Latin name: Antirrhinum majus
Although the snapdragon flower is quite common in Ireland today, it is actually native to North America and the Mediterranean countries. It is a perennial plant and flowers from June to October.
Latin name: Antirrhinum majus
Although the snapdragon flower is quite common in Ireland today, it is actually native to North America and the Mediterranean countries. It is a perennial plant and flowers from June to October.
Snapdragon
Irish name: Srubh lao Latin name: Antirrhinum majus
©Jenny SeawrightSnapdragon
©Jenny Seawright
©Jenny Seawright
Snapdragon
Irish name: Srubh lao Latin name: Antirrhinum majus
©Jenny SeawrightIt can really grow in most places - waste ground, cracks in the pavement, old walls. It has even been known to grow on rubbish tips!
The one thing that will make a snapdragon plant really flourish is full sunlight. The snapdragon can self-seed, so it can overgrow an ecosystem very quickly.
The one thing that will make a snapdragon plant really flourish is full sunlight. The snapdragon can self-seed, so it can overgrow an ecosystem very quickly.
The bright, tubular flowers of the snapdragon grow in a variety of vibrant colours, from yellow to white, pink and red. The tall, slender stalks are laden with dense blossoms that produce a light, sweet fragrance.
While these full, showy blossoms are full of charm for the gardener, they are also many children’s favourite flowers. When you look closely, the flowers look like the face of a dragon that has its mouth open wide. If you pinch the flower gently, it instantly clamps down – snap! This is where it gets its name, snapdragon.
If you have snapdragons in your garden, you must be very careful around them. All parts of the flower, including the tiny seeds, are toxic if eaten.