The Snapdragon is an exotic plant native to the Mediterranean, scientifically known as Antirrhinum majus, it is characterized by its resistant flowers of varied colors that last throughout the summer and autumn, and usually occurs in countries such as Morocco, Portugal, the south of France, eastern Turkey and Syria. It received the name ‘dragon’s mouth’ because its flowers have a shape similar to that of a dragon about to breathe fire, opening as if it were a mouth.
Dragon mouth
The snapdragon begins to grow in the spring and is preserved until late autumn because it easily adapts to temperate climates and sunny areas, which is why it is a biennial outdoor plant. It is perennial, has different types and can measure from 15 centimeters to 120 centimeters high. Among its different types, there are the following:
Antirrhinum barreliere: It has flowers between 20 to 25 centimeters long, purplish with an acute apex and linear calyx segments.
Artirrhinum hispanicum: It occurs in the southeast of Spain and is characterized by its short stems and varied, alternate and oval leaves.
Antirrhinum mollissimum: This species has thin stems, which measure from 8 centimeters to 65 centimeters, it is a plant with mostly opposite leaves.
Antirrhinum sempervirens: With thin, hanging stems and opposite leaves.
Antirrhinum pulverulentum: It has thin, simple stems with lower leaves. It has alternating dark brown to black seeds.
Take proper care of the snapdragon
It does not matter what species of plant you get or have at home, because despite the differences in size and color, all of them are outdoor flowers, so they will all require the same care, they are very easy to maintain as long as we do not expose them to extreme climates, such as heat waves or frost.
The first thing is to know that this plant needs semi-shade, so to ensure good flowering it must receive at least six hours of light a day. They need a warm temperature so you should try to avoid very cold temperatures.
Its watering should be moderate, during the summer the frequency will have to be increased due to the heat, but do not forget that you should not let the garden substrate or the pot become waterlogged. If it lives in a pot, make sure it has good drainage to prevent the roots from rotting or an attack of .
The snapdragon needs warm soils, so we recommend applying liquid fertilizer at least every 15 days while it is in its flowering period. It is advisable to remove wilted flowers to help them sprout more easily and sooner.
Skulls appear before death
The dragon’s mouth is the very proof of ambivalence and the very dichotomy between life and death. In life it is one of the most beautiful flowers that exist, however, when it dies and its flowers perish before the cycle of life and death, the plant is completely transformed.
Its branches, devoid of life and reduced to dry leaves, have a shape that cannot be ignored. They look like a cluster full of dark sandstone skulls, which is what makes it so mysterious. In life it vibrates with the fire of the dragon and the vibrant colors of its flowers, but in death the skulls in the shape of a human skull are visible and then release seeds and begin the cycle of life again.