Snapdragon
Young seedlings need frost protection if sown in autumn. Rust is the main disease risk - avoid wetting the foliage when watering and clear away fallen leaf litter, since the fungus spreads in splashing water and stays wet leaves for hours.
- Sun
- full sun
- Water
- moderate
- Spacing
- 20cm
- Difficulty
- beginner
- Grows in
- Whangārei / Northland, Auckland, Hamilton / Waikato, Tauranga / Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Napier / Hawke's Bay, New Plymouth / Taranaki, Palmerston North / Manawatū-Whanganui, Wellington, Nelson, Tasman, Blenheim / Marlborough, West Coast, Christchurch / Canterbury, Dunedin / Otago, Invercargill / Southland
- Mature height
- 60cm
- Flowering season
- Jan, Feb, Nov, Dec
- Common diseases
- Rust, Powdery mildew
- Common pests
- Aphids, Whitefly
When to plant by region
In Whangārei / Northland, Auckland, Tauranga / Bay of Plenty, Gisborne and Napier / Hawke's Bay: August-October. In Hamilton / Waikato, New Plymouth / Taranaki, Palmerston North / Manawatū-Whanganui, Wellington, Nelson and Tasman: September-October. In Blenheim / Marlborough, West Coast and Christchurch / Canterbury: September-November. In Dunedin / Otago and Invercargill / Southland: October-November.
Growing stages
Germination & planting
- Autumn-sown seedlings need frost protection over winter
- Space plants around 20cm apart in a full-sun spot
Establishment
- Watch young plants for aphids and whitefly on tender new growth
- Water at the base rather than over the foliage from the start, to help avoid the rust this genus is prone to
Vegetative growth
- Rust is the main disease risk, so avoid wetting foliage when watering
- Clear away fallen leaf litter, since rust spreads in splashing water and on leaves left wet for hours
- Powdery mildew can also appear in humid, crowded conditions
FloweringNovember to February
- Keep foliage dry when watering to hold off rust while in bloom
- Deadhead spent spikes to prolong flowering
- Aphids and whitefly can still target flower stems