Tall Blend
Tall Maximum Blend Snapdragon reaches an impressive 30 to 36 inches, creating vertical drama in gardens across USDA zones 6 through 10. This cultivar of Antirrhinum majus produces blooms in a vibrant mixed palette, thriving in full sun to partial shade with moderate water. Though technically half-hardy, these striking flowers can be started indoors 8 to 10 weeks before your last frost date for robust early-season color, or sown directly outside in cold climates 4 to 6 weeks before frost arrives. Even better: the flowers are edible, adding an unexpected ornamental and culinary dimension to garden designs and plates alike.
12-18 inches apart
Full Sun To Partial Shade
Moderate
6-10
36in H x ?in W
Annual
Moderate
Hover over chart points for details
Standing 30 to 36 inches tall, this snapdragon blend creates commanding vertical presence that few ornamentals achieve without staking. The mixed flower palette delivers continuous color impact, while the edible blooms blur the line between ornamental and culinary gardening. Indoor seed starting 8 to 10 weeks before your last frost date produces vigorous transplants ready to flower prolifically, making this a reliable performer across most of North America.
Tall Maximum Blend Snapdragons function as striking cut flowers, their height and branching habit filling vases with weeks of continuous bloom. The edible flowers garnish salads, desserts, and cocktails, lending both visual intrigue and a delicate, slightly peppery taste. In the garden, they anchor borders and cottage garden schemes with architectural presence, while the mixed color range allows for spontaneous, vibrant combinations without additional planning.
Start seed indoors 8 to 10 weeks before your average last frost date. Sow seed on the soil surface without covering, as light aids germination. Maintain soil temperature between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Thin seedlings to 1 inch spacing when they reach half an inch tall. Transplant into larger containers once established for sturdy growth before moving outdoors.
Transplant outdoors after your average last frost date when soil can be worked. Space plants 12 inches apart to allow for air circulation and mature branching. Harden off seedlings gradually by exposing them to outdoor conditions for increasing periods over 7 to 10 days before final planting.
In cold climates, sow directly outdoors 4 to 6 weeks before your average last frost date, or as soon as soil can be worked. In mild climates, sow in late summer to early fall for winter and spring bloom. Sow seed on the soil surface and keep moist until germination. Thin seedlings to 1 inch spacing when half an inch tall.
For cut flowers, harvest spikes in the morning once several florets along the stem have opened, leaving some closed buds at the tip to continue opening in the vase. For edible flowers, pick individual blooms or small clusters as they fully open, using them fresh within hours of harvest for best flavor and appearance. The flowers remain ornamental throughout their lifespan, so harvest timing depends on your design and culinary needs rather than a specific maturity stage.
Deadhead spent flower spikes regularly to encourage branching and continuous blooming throughout the season. Pinching the central growing tip when plants reach 6 inches tall promotes fuller, more bushy growth and increased flower production rather than single-stem development.
Enter your ZIP code to see a personalized growing calendar for this plant.