Everything you need to know about

Antirrhinums

Does the Antirrhinum receive the recognition it truly deserves? Perhaps not, and this oversight means the beauty, diversity, and charm of this flower might not be celebrated as they should be.

Let’s face it: how many flowers can bring a smile quite like this one? A gentle squeeze of its dragon-like blooms makes the imaginary dragon’s head open and snap closed on release.

While most florists appreciate Antirrhinum for its striking linear form and vibrant colour range, do they know half of the fascinating information we’re about to share?

Whether you’ve spent decades in the florist industry or are just beginning your journey as a flower lover, keep scrolling to uncover the hidden secrets and captivating insights of Antirrhinum.

Antirrhinum majus Cannes Rose

What we'll cover:

General info

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Florist info

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Points of Interest

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Buying info

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Care guides

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General Antirrhinum Cut Flower Information

How it looks:

The Antirrhinum presents a distinctive and eye-catching profile that makes it truly special. The flowers sit atop tall, upright stems, with each individual flower head, or floret, measuring 3 to 5 centimetres in length. These tubular blooms feature a unique “dragon” shape, and many florets grow closely together around the entire stem, creating a striking vertical display that can be enjoyed from every direction.

The foliage begins below the flowers and consists of generally narrow, lance-shaped leaves that are mid to dark green. This greenery and the stems provide a perfect complement to the flowers, regardless of which of the many varied colours they display.

Grouping of Antirrhinum:

All commercial Antirrhinums cut flowers are similar and therefore are all placed within the single Antirrhinum majus product group 1 01 045 01 by VBN (the Dutch Flower Auctions Association).

Tell me more about 'Product Groups'

Group codes:
Whilst each flower and plant variety has it’s own product code they are classified into product groups. Each product group has a separate VBN group code. Categorising plants and flowers into groups with similar characteristics, is helpful on many levels; grading criteria and checks, and recording statistical information being just a couple.

As an example:
 Gerbera large flowered (grp 10100601) is a different group to Gerbera large flowered spider shaped (grp 10100607). Gerbera mini (grp 10100602) is a different group to Gerbera mini spider shaped (grp 10100608). Whilst each Gerbera group have many similar characteristics, they also have important differences, hence the different product groups.

Just some of the

Antirrhinum Varieties

See Antirrhinum in the Webshop

There are currently 104 different varieties of commercial Antirrhinum cut flowers registered and listed with trading codes. 

Classification Names:

Family: Plantaginaceae

Genus: Antirrhinum

Species: Antirrhinum majus

Common Names:

  • Snapdragon
  • Dragon’s Mouth
  • Lion’s Mouth
  • Dog’s Mouth
  • Bunny Ear | Bunny’s mouth
  • Calf’s snout
  • Toad’s mouth

Pronunciation

Antirrhinum are pronounced: an-ti-RHY-num

Fragrant:

Whilst some commercial antirrhinum varieties are have a very slight fragrance, most do not and they are currently not considered to be a fragrant flower.

Vase life:

← – 7 – 12 days – →

Available in these Colours:

  • White
  • Yellow
  • Orange
  • Red
  • Pink (from blush pale pink to mid and darker pink shades. Also vivid magenta.)
  • Purple
  • Lavender and ‘silver’ off white shades
  • Peach, apricot and gold
  • Burgundy
  • Bi-coloured varieties (combinations of the above colours)

Antirrhinum availability throughout the year

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

There are a good selection of good quality Antirrhinum cut flower varieties available throughout the entire year. However, there are a wider range of colours and varieties available during the summer months.

Natural Season:

Antirrhinum are considered to be a summer flower.

Antirrhinum originated from

Where Antirrhinum originated

There is some debate regarding the precise origin of Antirrhinum, as is often the case with plant origins. The general consensus is that Antirrhinum originated in the western and southern Mediterranean regions, namely Italy, Spain, and Portugal.

While some sources cite that Antirrhinum also originated in North America, this refers to flowers previously classified as Antirrhinums but now reclassified as Sairocarpus. As science develops and flowers are reclassified, the previously larger Antirrhinum family has been divided. Regardless of subdivision, the flowers generally all share the common name “Snapdragons,” which can add to the confusion.

However, when it comes to where our Antirrhinum majus originated, it seems clear they are generally native to the western Mediterranean regions. 

Write the name of the country or location of origins. can add some more info about when they were brought over etc. if required.

Florist Information

Product Group Number:

10104501

 

Current Number of Varieties:

Their are currently 104 cut flower varieties of Antirrhinum with product codes, enabling them to be traded through the Dutch flower auctions (or directly from growers). However, to date 152 Antirrhinum have been registered with PlantScope the comprehensive database of all global floriculture products.

 

Commercially available from:

The late 1980’s (although perhaps not in the UK) becoming more easily available in the 1990’s

(Antirrhinum majus ‘West Virginia’ was registered 08.01.88)

More about Product Group Number

Group codes:
Whilst each flower and plant variety has it’s own product code they are classified into different product groups. Each product group has a separate VBN group code. Categorising plants and flowers into groups with similar characteristics, is helpful on many levels; grading criteria and checks, and recording statistical information being just a couple.

As an example:
 Gerbera large flowered (grp 10100601) is a different group to Gerbera large flowered spider shaped (grp 10100607). Gerbera mini (grp 10100602) is a different group to Gerbera mini spider shaped (grp 10100608). Whilst each Gerbera group have many similar characteristics, they also have important differences, hence the different product groups.

Shape & Visual texture:

Shape: Line form

More about flower shape

Shape and form are terms that are often used together but have two different meanings. Form is three-dimensional with width, height and depth. Whereas a shape is two-dimensional. As an example a tennis ball (or Craspedia head) have a spherical form, but a round shape.

Whilst most flowers have a three-dimensional form within floristry they are traditionally categorised in three basic ways:

  • Round – round materials are bold and generally have high visual impact
  • Line – line materials have directional pull that aids visual movement
  • Transitional – transitional materials (often called filler flowers) have smaller branching stems or sprays of small flowers. They are used to fill in and act as stepping stones between line and round materials

These are the categories we have used within this section.

Visual texture: Velvety flower heads

More about visual texture

Texture is the surface appearance and feel of any object, in our instance a flower or plant material. There are two main categories of texture: Actual texture – the feel of something, and  Visual texture – the way it looks. We are focusing our information on the ‘Visual texture’.

The visual texture is when something’s appearance gives the impression of the texture without having to touch it. Whilst there could be many ways of describing a visual texture we have limited ours to: Waxy e.g. Hoya or Cymbidium,  Rough e.g. eryngium, Glossy e.g. anthurium, Velvety e.g. celosia, Lacy e.g. Ammi majus, or fluffy e.g. Ageratum houstonianum. Whilst there could be countless descriptions of textures, we have selected these as they are stated in the Professional Floristry Manual Edited by Lynda Owen and published by the British Florist Association.

Florists appreciate the importance of visual texture of flowers and plant materials it adds impact, interest and contrast to a design.

snapdragon flower close up

Inflorescences & Stem type:

Inflorescences: Generally considered: Spike – Flowers are attached without stalks – sessile. However some varieties are  Raceme – Flowers are attached to main stem by short stalk

About Inflorescences

Inflorescence is the categorised way that the flowers are arranged on a main axis/stalk/peduncle, stalk and by the timing of the flowering.

We will state the type of inflorescence from the following groups:

Single Inflorescence:

  • Single or solitary – single flower on an upright single stem, it can also be called terminal or axillary flower

Indeterminate Inflorescence:
(Monopodial (racemose) growth where the terminal bud can keep growing and the oldest flowers are at the base or outermost part of the flower and the newest at the top, central or innermost.)

  • Raceme – Flowers are attached to main stem by short stalk e.g. Antirrhinum, Phalaenopsis
  • Spike (or sometime called Sessile) – flowers are attached without stalks e.g. gladiolus
  • Spadix – A type of panicle but the flowers are really tightly packed, often surrounded by a spathe (we usually think of the spathe section as the flower and the spike; that actually is multiple tiny flowers, as a less significant part of the overall flower) e.g. anthurium and Zantedeschia
  • Panicle – highly branched racemes with multiple clusters on several branches e.g. syringa
  • Simple Umbel – Flower stalks arise from one point on the stem and are the same length e.g. allium
  • Compound Umbel – collection of simple umbels e.g. Ammi
  • Corymb – Flattened top with flowers of different stalk lengths e.g. achillea
  • Capitulum –  a flower head composed of many separate unstalked flowers close together e.g. asters, sunflower, single bloom Chrysanthemum. It looks like one flower, but is actually made up of multiple tiny heads together

Determinate Inflorescence:
(Sympodial (Cymose) growth where the terminal bud flowers first and prevents any further bud being developed on the stem. The oldest flowers are at the top, central or innermost and the newest at the bottom, or outermost.)

  • Simple Cyme –  These can be in different forms but all have the characteristic of the oldest flower being in the innermost section of the stem. e.g. spray chrysanthemum, ranunculus stem etc.
  • Helicoid Cyme – Successive flower heads are developed along one side of a single axis e.g. freesia
  • Scorpioid Cyme – Successive flower heads are developed from alternate sides of a single axis e.g. Myosotis
  • Dichasium Cymes (Double cymes) –  two flower buds occur in axils of bract behind terminal position
  • Mixed Inflorescence (A raceme of cymes) – multiple flower buds are developed along multiple flower axils e.g. Euphorbia fulgens (multi stemmed)

Stem type (General): Soft stem

Stem tissue type: Hairy

The effects of these stem types are in the Florist Care Information

About different stem types

Different types of cut flower (and foliage) stems behave differently. Understanding what type of stem the flower has give you a greater appreciation of how best to care care for the flower.

We have divided the flower stems into two categories their:

General stem type, these will include:

  • Woody – as the name suggests a woody inflexible stem that don’t often die down over winter
  • Semi woody – these stems are usually quite strong and have a combination of woody and soft fibres to different degrees
  • Soft & Bulbus stems – usually an annual summer flower or a spring bulb flower with a often with a fleshy stem
  • Hollow stems – again, as the name suggests a stem with a hollow centre (occasionally a very soft pulp centre) these hollow stems usually entirely fill with water
  • Latex stems – these stems exude or ‘bleed’ a milky substance call latex. Different plants have different strength of milky latex; some types of plant with this sap are sticky and can be an irritant to people and other flowers

Some flower may fall into two categories, e.g. narcissus and amaryllis are both hollow and a soft bulbus stem type, in these instances we will categorise them in the group that is most important to understand with these examples narcissus will be classes as a soft bulbus stem, whereas the amaryllis will be classes as a hollow stem.

Stem tissue type, these will include:

Different stem tissue types ‘pollute’ water in different ways, having an understanding about these as different stem tissue types means that you can act accordingly, both in their conditioning and continued treatment. This enables you to get the best out of them and importantly, the other flowers around them that could be negatively impacted without the right understanding and care.

Whilst some stem tissue titles may be similar to those above they may be different (and without an understanding of how and why we’re using both terms, may seem contradictorily).

  • Woody
  • Hairy
  • Smooth
  • Soft
  • Waxed.

Micro-organism bacteria are attracted to stems to a greater and lesser degrees depending on their stem tissue type. When micro-organisms ‘attack’ and begin decomposing flower stems it can negatively impact the flowers lasting ability and those in the same vase, or in some situations very close by.

Plant type:

Annual

 

Phototropism:

Antirrhinum can be very phototropic, this is something you may want to consider when storing flowers or designs.

About Tropism

Tropism is a growth response to an environmental stimulus. The direction is determined by the direction from which the stimulus strikes the flower or plant.

  • Positive = the flower or plant, or a part of it, grows in the direction from which the stimulus originates.
  • Negative = growth away from the stimulus.

Why is this important?

Flowers can have varying levels of phototropism – where they grow towards a light source. and this can hugely effect the flowers stems and the impact that has on a design.

A familiar example of this maybe sunflower heads facing towards the sun whilst growing, in a field of sunflowers this is an endearing phenomena.
However, if you were to place Gladioli into a design horizontally and the only light source was from above all the ends would turn upwards towards the light source, usually detrimentally impacting the desired look of the design. This happens with a whole range of flowers and is especially noticeable with line forms e.g. Antirrhinum, Matthiola, etc.

Flowers and Plants respond to:

Phototropism

As established this relates to the external stimulus of light

  • Light = phototropism. 
    • Stems are positively phototropic.
    • Roots are negatively phototropic.
  • Another phototropic characteristic is when light can effect the colour of flower. This is can be present in some varieties of roses, where the shade of the rose can change during it’s maturity, or the same variety can look a slightly different shade depending on the amount and type of light it receives whilst growing.

Geotropism

Directional growth of a plant as a result of earth’s gravitational forces

  • Gravity = Geotropism/gravitropism
    • Stems are negatively geotropic/gravitropic while
    • roots are positively geotropic/gravitropic.

The adaptive value of these tropisms is clear.

  • Roots growing down and/or away from light are more likely to find the soil, water, and minerals they need.
  • Stems growing up and toward the light will be able to expose their leaves so that photosynthesis can occur.

Ethylene sensitivity:

Antirrhinum are sensitive to Ethylene

 

Is it poisonous or harmful?

To Humans: Antirrhinum is generally considered non-toxic to humans. There are no significant reports of toxicity from ingestion or contact.
To dogs: Snapdragons are not known to be toxic to dogs. They are considered safe if ingested in small amounts, though large quantities might cause mild digestive upset.
To Cats: Similar to dogs, snapdragons are not considered toxic to cats. They are generally safe, but ingestion in large amounts could potentially lead to mild digestive issues.

While cut Antirrhinum or snapdragon flowers may not cause any considerable risk they are only grown for decorative purposes and should never be consumed, therefore it’s still advisable to keep cut stems away from pets and children.

Antirrhinum are commercially grown in:

The Netherlands, Spain, Italy, Kenya, Colombia, UK, and Israel.

Whilst other countries commercially grow cut flower Antirrhinum they are not usually imported into the UK.

Where antirrhinum are commercially grown

Number of countries that grow cut flower Clematis:

7

Number of growers of cut flower Clematis:

50+

Top 3 growing countries of cut flower Clematis:

  1. Netherlands
  2. Spain
  3. Italy

*Originating from data from Royal FloraHolland.

Points of Interest

Meaning of the name:

The name “Antirrhinum” is derived from the Greek words “anti,” meaning “like,” and “rhin,” meaning “nose.” This refers to the flower’s shape, which resembles a snout or nose, akin to a dragon’s mouth.

Snapdragon Meaning: The common name “snapdragon” comes from the flower’s resemblance to a dragon’s mouth. When the flower is squeezed, it opens and closes like a dragon snapping its jaws. This characteristic has contributed to its playful and imaginative name.

Language of flowers meaning:

In the Victorian language of flowers, snapdragons symbolise both deception (perhaps tied to the notion of concealment) and graciousness. An Antirrhinum flower was also known for truth-telling.

Cultural and Symbolic meanings:

Antirrhinum, or snapdragons, carry various symbolic meanings.

Symbolism

  • Grace and Strength: Snapdragons are often associated with grace and strength some cite this as reflecting its ability to thrive in the harshest of environments and other say its due to their tall, sturdy stems and delicate flowers.
  • Deception: Historically, snapdragons have symbolised deception because the flower resembles a dragon’s mouth, which can “snap” shut.
  • Presumption: In some cultures, snapdragons are linked to presumption, possibly due to their bold and upright appearance.

Cultural Significance

  • Protection: In folklore, snapdragons were believed to offer protection from deceit and falsehoods.
  • Warding Off Evil: Some traditions held that snapdragons could ward off evil spirits when planted around the home.
  • Magical Qualities: Both Romans and Greeks thought snapdragons had magical qualities to protect them against charms and enchantments from witchcraft, and protection from illness or poisoning

Different colour Antirrhinum flower meanings:

  • White Snapdragons: Symbolise purity and innocence.
  • Pink Snapdragons: Represent grace and gentleness.
  • Red Snapdragons: Stand for passion and strength.
  • Yellow Snapdragons: Symbolise happiness and positivity.
  • Purple Snapdragons: Represent spirituality and mystery.

Other fun info:

  • Snapdragon Seeds: The seeds of snapdragons are incredibly tiny, with with approximately 6,000 to 9,000 seeds fitting into a single gram. This makes them one of the smallest seeds used in horticulture.
  • Antirrhinum Domestication: Their production as a garden plant dates back to the Roman Empire.
  • Historical Use: In the past, snapdragons were used to make a dye for textiles. The flowers were boiled to extract a yellow pigment.
  • Castle Guardians: Historically Snapdragons were planted near gates as the guardians of European castles.
  • Pollinator Attraction: Snapdragons are particularly attractive to bumblebees, which are strong enough to open the “dragon’s mouth” to access the nectar inside.
  • Medicinal Use: Historically, snapdragons were used in herbal medicine to treat inflammation and infections.
  • Growing Wild: Wild varieties can still be found growing freely in the ruins of ancient Greece and Rome.
  • Culinary Use: In Russia, oil is extracted from snapdragon seeds as substitutes for olive oil.
  • Lion or Dragon: In most languages, the snapdragon translates to “lion’s mouth”.
  • Skull Seedpods: It’s undeniable that the Antirrhinum seedpods look like skulls, in fact the resemblance is quite freaky!
Antirrhinum seedpod skull
Information for florists on

Buying wholesale Antirrhinum flowers

Our complete buying guide
Register now

The growers share so much information about each stem of Antirrhinum that are sold. This mandatory  info is crucial to fully appreciate and understand. It explains to the florist, every flower characteristics, the information needed to buy the exact and best products.

We’re going to share this below so you can gain a real understand in the best ways to buy Antirrhinum. Ready? Let’s dive in…

Tell me more

The information and characteristics provided about the vast majority of commercial cut flowers is epic!

Product codes: Every flower has it’s very own product code. This code is specific to that flower variety so a Gerbera mini ‘Kimsey’ would have a different product code to a Gerbera mini ‘Bridal Kimsey’ just as a Spray Roses ‘Coral Bubbles’ would have a different code to Spray Roses ‘Orange Bubbles’. 

Flower specifications: Each individual product, of the same code, has a set of specific characteristics that will always be present, ensuring they are consistent.

Sort codes:
Whilst every flower of the same variety (and product code) might be the same in many ways, they can still be very different in others. 

This is where sort codes come in, it’s vital for florists to understand and fully appreciate these codes.

Sort codes include:

  • Minimum length of flower stem – generally shortened to ‘length’
  • Weight (average) in grams
  • Minimum number of flower buds – generally shortened to ‘bud count’
  • Stage of maturity – often called ‘ripeness’
  • Minimum flower diameter – often called ‘head size’
  • Minimum bud height – often called ‘min head size’

Not every flower will have all these sort codes. For example spray roses will have details of their length, bud count, and maturity. 

Group codes:
Whilst each flower and plant has it’s own product code they are classified into product groups. Each product group has a code. Categorising plants and flowers into groups with similar characteristics, is helpful on many levels; grading criteria and checks, and recording statistical information being just a couple.

As an example:
Gerbera large flowered (grp 10100601) is a different group to Gerbera large flowered spider shaped (grp 10100607). Gerbera mini (grp 10100602) is a different group to Gerbera mini spider shaped (grp 10100608). Whilst each Gerbera group have many similar characteristics, they also have important differences, hence the different product groups.

Colour codes:
To clearly communicate the colour of a product it is assigned colour codes when it is registered (it has to be registered so it can be sold). The colour is established using a colour chart issued by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). Each colour is indicated by a code, the RHS colour code of which there are 969 colours (the auctions have corresponding codes to match each of these). However, as these codes are such a detailed way of giving the product it’s colour, the flower auctions also use another colour classification to provide information onto webshops.

What we do: Colour codes are provided to us along with the other data, but even the shortened list is very long. That’s why we’ve created a set of ‘Colours’ where we’ve grouped together flowers colours, this means purple flowers that span across 15 different codes can easily be found all together by using our webshop filter. 

Logistic codes:
These codes include information on the number of stems in the bunch, the amount of items per bucket, and the type of packaging etc. We present the essential information that you’ll need in different ways, here’s a good example of why packing type it’s important…

Consider the Kimsey mini Gerbera, these can be sold in:

  • bunches in a bucket of water
  • boxes or half a box 
  • diamond packs

You will want to know which way you’re buying them.

Quality Groups:
These indicate if a product is A1, A2, or B1. The only 3 quality ratings. Almost all products ever sold are A1, and this is certainly the case with us at Westflor (however, occasionally you may wish to buy B1 Porta Nova red roses for two-thirds of your red rose coffin spray for example). 

Other codes:

Company code: Which shares all the details of the grower

Country codes: These countries are identified by two letters.

Certifications: Showing MPS rating, Rainforest Alliance, Fairtrade, GlobalGap, etc.

Marketing concept codes: This would share information such as ‘Meilland Jardin & Parfum Rose’ or ‘Hypericum Romance Series’.

Post harvest after-treatment: Types of cut flower food used immediately after the flowers have been harvested.

Cultivation method: For example, under glass or outdoors.

Wrapping material: This could share info such as no wrapping, compostable sleeve, cardboard or plastic.

Vase life index: How many days it lasted in tests.

Transaction Characteristics: This includes things like Producer Groups, like: Decorum, Parfum Flower Company, Floral Fundamentals and 365 days of flowers, and more mundane transaction info such as a products Vat rate, weather it’s priced per stem, bunch, etc.

Webshop Product Details

Antirrhinum page listing examples

Antirrhinum cut flower listing example
Antirrhinum cut flower listing example

Product selected example

Antirrhinum selected cut flower listing example

Antirrhinum sorting description details:

Length (cm)
Available: 60cm, 65cm, 70cm, 75cm, 80cm, 90cm
In London we stock: 75cm - 80cm. In Holland we stock: 75cm - 80cm. From Pre-order: 75cm - 80cm
Stage of maturity/ripeness
Available: 1 - 5
In London we stock: 2 - 3 also indicated as 23. In Holland we stock: 2 - 3. From Pre-order: 2 - 3.

Other available information

Maturity: Whilst the stage of maturity or ripeness is mandatory information that must be given by the growers, as we have a limited amount of space to share information on our webshop, coupled with the fact that we always ensure the flowers we sell are exceptionally fresh, we don’t always share this is information.

Maturity or Ripeness:

Antirrhinum are sorted by maturity or ripeness as shown in the example(s) below.

One represents the most closed the flower can be sold by the grower and five represents the most open it can be sold by the grower.

Antirrhinum maturity sorting examples. Westflor flower wholesale

1 = 10% – 20% of open buds
2 = 20% – 40% of open buds
3 = 40% – 60% of open buds
4 = 60% – 90% of open buds
5 = 90% – 100% of open buds

Whilst regulations dictates flowers can be sold in stages 1 – 5 in reality flowers are often unavailable in all maturity or ripeness stages (it’s just not practical or beneficial).

More information on maturity/ripeness codes:

Flower maturity or ripeness can be shown in different ways.

One number repeated: When one number is repeated it indicates all the flowers are of that maturity. This number can be shown with or without a hyphen e.g. 3-3 or 33

Different numbers shown: When the numbers are different it indicates flowers in that bunch have a maturity range of between the lowest to the highest number. e.g. 2-3 or 23. It is very unusual that flowers are ever sold as a complete maturity mixed bunch,  but it is technically possible, this would be represented as 1 – 5 or 15.

Why it’s important to know and use this information: Knowing this information can be very helpful to florists.

For example a florist may welcome buying a more mature rose of 4 if they need to create a flower wall or large archway for a wedding, or similarly, if they are creating a coffin spray of roses for a funeral.

However, if they are looking to buy roses for stock, or general gift work, they are likely to want 2 or 3 maturity flowers.

Some roses are only ever sold from maturity 3, this includes all Meijer roses and the vast majority of Porta Nova roses – they’re naturally a large head that opens beautifully, they don’t sell it when it’s very closed (unless they’re sending it to a country that takes over 24 hours for the transport to arrive. In this instance, as they are transported in water, they leave the growers at stage 2 and arrive at stage 3!).

Cut flower Antirrhinum care guides

We’ll cover all the care information for florists and for enjoying Antirrhinum at home. The expert information we share will ensure you get the very best out of your cut Antirrhinum or if you prefer Snapdragons.

Florists care and conditioning advice

Special care considerations for Antirrhinum:

Besides all the usual cut flower conditioning and care good practices (which are led out in the ‘Consumer / at home care information section) the points below are specific to Antirrhinum cut flower care.

examples only

  • Good air flower is important to Antirrhinum to stop any dampening or botrytis, which they can be susceptible to. Therefore don’t over crowd them or ‘pack’ them in with other flowers and do not leave them in plastic sleeves for extended periods of time.
  • Cut flower food is important and will help: rehydration & general water uptake, buds to fully open, reduce bacteria build up in the water, especially as they have tiny hairs on the stems that can attract bacteria. It will also ensure the appropriate PH level, as Antirrhinum don’t appreciate softened water, and as with all flowers cut flower food will also avoid snapdragons wilting prematurely. 
  • As they are ethylene sensitive avoid ethylene exposure as this will result in premature wilting and prevent flowers opening.
  • Snapdragons are prone phototropic and geotropic bending (you may have experience this when they have been transported to you in a horizontal position). However, its important for you to be mindful of this, especially in work you do in advance, its also worth noting that the flower bending phenomenon is more pronounced in warmer temperatures. Find out more in the Phototropism section of the Florist information.

Best flower food:

Whilst in stock: Chrysal professional 2
For aqua pack, vases, foam soaking prior to delivery: Chrysal pro 2 or pro 3
Sachet to send to with flowers: Universal clear | Chrysal bio based compostable or paper sachets

Cut flower food:

Shop cut flower food

Stem type effect:

Stem type: Soft
Effect: Reasonably careful handling is advised to avoid bending (snapping).

Stem tissue type: Hairy
Water polluting level: High

Optimal temperature:

1 – 4°C / 34 – 39°F 

Caring for flowers at home

Step by step guide

  • Select a suitable vase for the flowers:
    • Usually the minimum vase size should be at least 1 litre
    • Where possible avoid antique crystal, metal or porous vases, or use a plastic inner container to line the vase
  • Clean your vase thoroughly, if you feel it is clean still rinse it out or brush or wipe the inside
  • Use fresh tap water and add the correct quantity of cut flower food for the amount of water you use. Mix the cut flower food into the water
  • Remove all leaves that would go below the water level (leaving the stems as clean as possible)
  • Avoid damaging the stems
  • Cut at least 4cm off the end of the flower (and foliage) stems at a 45° angle with a sharp clean knife or secateurs. The aim is to get a clean cut that doesn’t crush and damage the stem (which scissors can sometimes do). Dirty tools can pass bacteria to the fresh cut
  • Place the freshly cut materials directly into water – do not leave them on the side to ‘breath air’
  • Avoid exposure to direct sunlight, draughts and excessive airflow, heat, ripening fruit, and smoke
  • Keep a close eye on the water:
    • Ensure all stems are still below the water level
    • Top up the water (or change it) if it falls below 1/3 or the initial volume
    • Change the water if it becomes visibly dirty; cloudy, discoloured, including sediment at the bottom of the vase, or if smells bad (micro-organisms in the water cause these issues)
    • When using professional cut flower food the water will rarely need changing before 3, 4 or more days, in most cases you can simply top the water up with more of the cut flower food solution. However, some types of flower stems and warmer weather or locations, cause result in the water needing to be changed sooner
  • When changing the water, rinse clean the vase, add more cut flower food solution recut the flower stems
  • If you do not have (and can not get) cut flower food, change the water more frequently, ideally every other day and recut the stems each time
  • Ensure flowers are not overly crowded
  • Remove any fading flowers from the bottom of the stem, this is usual and the buds and newer flowers will continue to open beautifully

Reference List:

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Lisianthus / Eustoma Cut flower guide

Eustoma | Lisianthus

anthurium cut flower guide

Anthurium

Antirrhinum cut flower guide

Antirrhinum