Cherry Twist Snapdragon is a stunning heirloom snapdragon that delivers something rarely seen in the flower garden: tall, elegant flower spikes with a striking bicolor combination of cherry red and buttercream. This variety earned the prestigious Fleuroselect Award of Novelty for its distinctive color pairing, reaching 24 inches tall with a naturally narrow habit that makes it ideal for cutting gardens, borders, and containers. From seed to first bloom takes 84 to 98 days, rewarding patient gardeners with flowers that bloom reliably from spring through fall in full sun. The real surprise? These blossoms are entirely edible, adding an ornamental and culinary dimension to your garden that most flowers simply cannot offer.
8
Full Sun
Moderate
6-11
24in H x 12in W
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Moderate
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The cherry red and buttercream bicolor pattern sets this snapdragon apart instantly, creating an almost jewel-like quality in the garden or vase. Its tall, narrow growth habit (24 inches by 8 to 12 inches) makes it a natural choice for cutting, standing proudly in arrangements without sprawling or requiring excessive staking. The blooms open reliably from spring straight through fall, and because they're edible, you can scatter them across salads, use them to crown desserts, or simply admire them in the garden without guilt. Deer leave them alone entirely, and the flowers attract pollinators throughout the season, bringing life and movement to the garden.
Cherry Twist functions as both an ornamental flower and an edible garnish. In the cutting garden, the tall, slender stems and long blooming season make it invaluable for fresh arrangements throughout the growing season. Gardeners use the blossoms to decorate baked goods, scatter them across salads for color and a delicate floral touch, and showcase them in floral displays. Because of its pollinator-attracting properties and deer resistance, it also serves as a reliable workhorse flower for mixed borders and beds, creating vertical interest without the fussiness of plants that require deadheading or constant maintenance.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Start seeds indoors 8 to 10 weeks before your last spring frost. Chill seeds in the refrigerator for 2 days before sowing. Sow thinly on the surface of a seed germination mix with added vermiculite, pressing seeds in lightly rather than covering them, as they require light to germinate. Keep containers at 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit and water from below by setting containers in a tray; allow them to drain thoroughly after watering. Expect seedlings to emerge in 5 to 14 days.
Transplant seedlings outdoors after the last spring frost when soil has warmed and nighttime temperatures consistently stay above 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Space plants 8 inches apart. Harden off seedlings gradually over 7 to 10 days before planting to acclimate them to outdoor conditions.
For cut flowers, harvest tall spikes when the bottom florets are open and the top buds are just beginning to show color. Cut stems in the early morning when they're fully hydrated. For edible blooms, pick individual flowers at full bloom and use immediately or store in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Avoid harvesting flowers during the hottest part of the day.
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“Cherry Twist carries the 'heirloom' designation, placing it within a tradition of open-pollinated, seed-saving snapdragons that gardeners have grown and preserved for generations. The Fleuroselect Award of Novelty it received acknowledges its status as a meaningful addition to snapdragon breeding, a moment when seed breeders achieved something fresh enough to be recognized internationally. This is a variety that bridges past and present, drawing on the sturdy genetics of heirloom snapdragons while introducing a color combination novel enough to earn formal recognition.”