MHG Volunteer Blog 34: Snapdragon

It's time for the latest blog from our dedicated team of volunteer gardeners at Pontefract Castle.

Find out more about their blog series here.

Another Bank Holiday Monday. Where does the time go? 

Unfortunately, the plants in the Medieval Herb Garden don’t have access to a calendar. They are acting as if it is early Autumn, not late August! 

After completing the weekly flower count, Carole continued to cut-back various plants that had already “gone over”.

Plants in the Medieval Herb Garden that already think it's Autumn!

She also spot-weeded plants like tansy, green alkanet and hound’s tongue that had self-seeded everywhere. These would threaten to take over next year, if left to their own devices.

Finally, Carole stocked up the sales barrow. Sorry, all the liquorice plants have now been sold. Due to the heat, she then “called it a day”.

Plant of the week: Snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus)

The botanical name, 'Antirrhinum', refers to the 'snout-like' form of the flower. The common name snapdragon originates from the flowers' reaction to having their throats squeezed. This causes the 'mouth' of the flower to snap open like a dragon's mouth.

Other names are lion's-mouth, rabbit's mouth, bonny rabbits, calf-snout, toad's mouth, bulldogs, and lion's-snap.

Snapdragon is native to Southern Europe and North Africa. It is closely related to toadflax. It is a bushy, deciduous, herbaceous perennial. Despite this, snapdragon is often grown as a biennial or annual plant. This is particularly in colder areas where it may not survive the winter.

It prefers to grow in full sun in south or west-facing, moist but well–drained sandy, loamy or chalky soil.

Snapdragons can grow to a height of 3 ft with a spread of 18 inches. It has upright or scrambling stems. The leaves are spirally arranged and broadly lanceolate. They are up to 3 inches long and 1 inch wide.

Yellow snapdragons growing in the Medieval Herb Garden

It flowers from late Spring to Autumn with purple / red / pink, yellow or white flowers. Modern cultivars have extended this colour range. 

There are between 8 and 30 short-stalked flowers on a tall spike. Each is up to 1.5 inches long and zygomorphic (only symmetrical when folded in half). The flowers have two lobed 'lips' closing the corolla tube.

Culinary uses of snapdragons

Snapdragons have been used in salad, desserts, soups, teas and liquors. They are used for decorative and flavour‐enhancing purposes. However, they are not to everyone's taste. Their flavour can be slightly bitter.

Folklore and other facts about snapdragons

Snapdragons were often planted in gardens as a protective shield against evil forces. They were thought to protect against falsehoods, evil spirits, and witchcraft.

In some traditions, snapdragons are linked to boldness, inner strength, and resilience.

Essential oils and flower essences derived from snapdragons are used in aromatherapy and homeopathy. They can promote relaxation.

Like toadflax, snapdragons are pollinated by bumblebees. These bees are strong enough to open the flowers, collecting pollen in the process.

Spider mites will attack snapdragons. Thrips are commonly seen in newly opened flowers and will cause small lesions in the shoots and flower buds. They will also remove pollen from the anthers. Aphids target and consume the terminal growth and underside of leaves.

Snapdragon suffers mostly from fungal infections. These include snapdragon rust, anthracnose, botrytis blight, downy mildew, and powdery mildew, fusarium wilt, leaf spots, and sclerotinia diseases.

Medieval uses of snapdragons*

The leaves and flowers have been traditionally used as poultices for various inflammations. These include haemorrhoids, ulcers, and rashes. Crushed snapdragon flowers were also used to treat burns, rashes, and insect bites.

*As always, this isn't to be considered medical advice today. Please don't use any plants mentioned in these blogs as medicine without advice from a doctor.