Snapdragons are one of the charmers of summer with their animated blooms and ease of care. Snapdragons are short-term perennials, but in many zones, they are grown as annuals. Can snapdragons survive winter? In temperate zones, you can still expect your snappies to come back the next year with a little preparation. Try some of our tips on overwintering snapdragons and see if you don’t have a lovely crop of these puffed blooms next season.
Can Snapdragons Survive Winter?
The United States Department of Agriculture lists snapdragons as hardy in zones 7 to 11. Everyone else will have to treat them as an annual. Snapdragons in the cooler zones can benefit from some protection from winter’s chill. Snapdragon winter care is a “snap,” but you have to be proactive and apply a little TLC to these babies before freezing temperatures make their appearance. Snapdragons grown in hotter zones perform best when planted in the cool season. That means if your zone has hot summers and mild winters, use them as fall and winter plantings. They will suffer a bit in the heat but rebloom in fall. Temperate and cooler regions use the flowers in spring and summer. Once the cold season approaches, blooms fall off and buds stop forming. Foliage will die back, and plants will melt into the ground. Temperate zone gardeners don’t have to worry about overwintering snapdragons, as they generally sprout right back when soil softens, and ambient temperatures warm up in spring. Gardeners in areas with severe winter weather will have to take more steps when preparing snapdragons for winter unless they simply want to reseed or purchase new plants in spring.
Snapdragon Winter Care in Temperate Zones
My region is considered temperate, and my snapdragons freely reseed themselves. A thick coating of leaf mulch is all I ever need to do to the bed in fall. You may also choose to use compost or fine bark mulch. The idea is to insulate the root zone from cold shock. It is helpful to pull back the organic mulch in late winter to early spring so the new sprouts can easily come through the soil. Snapdragons in winter temperate zones will simply compost back into the soil or you can cut plants back in fall. Some of the original plants spring back in the warm season but the numerous seeds that were self-sown freely sprout as well.
Preparing Snapdragons for Winter in Cold Regions
Our northern friends have a tougher time saving their snapdragon plants. If sustained freezes are part of your local weather, mulching might save the root zone and allow the plants to regrow in spring. You can also dig up the plants and move them indoors to overwinter in the basem*nt or garage. Provide moderate water and medium light. Increase the water and fertilize in late winter to early spring. Gradually reintroduce the plants to the outdoors in April to May, when temperatures have begun to warm, and soil is workable. Alternatively, harvest seeds as the plants begin to die back, usually around September or early October. Pull dried flower heads and shake into bags. Label them and save them in a cool, dry, dark area. Start snapdragons in winter indoors six to eight weeks before the date of the last frost. Plant the seedlings outdoors in a prepared bed after hardening them off.
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FAQs
Preparing Snapdragons for Winter in Cold Regions
Do you cut back snapdragons for winter in winter? ›
In areas where winters are mild and snapdragons are considered perennials, you can cut them back to encourage new growth and prevent overwintering diseases. Cut back the entire plant to a few inches above the ground, and remove any dead or diseased foliage. Mulch the area to protect the roots and prevent frost damage.
How to overwinter snapdragons? ›
In mild winters or when grown in a sheltered location a plant or two may survive the winter. If you feel lucky you may want to mulch the plant after the soil freezes. Cover the plant with evergreen boughs or straw. Or you could try growing it indoors like geraniums, impatiens, and other annuals.
How do you take care of snapdragons in pots in the winter? ›
Snapdragons do not require much water during the winter dormancy period. Winter precipitation should be adequate to keep outdoor snapdragons hydrated. Containers that have been brought into sheltered areas will need minimal watering, about once a month or so, to keep the soil from completely drying out.
What is the coldest temperature snapdragons can tolerate? ›
Snapdragons can survive temperatures as low as 25 degrees Fahrenheit. Snapdragons grow best when daytime temperature are 65–70 degrees Fahrenheit and cooler, nighttime temperatures of 50–60 degrees Fahrenheit promote and prolong flowering.
How do I get my snapdragons back every year? ›
Snapdragons bloom most prolifically in moist, well-draining soil. Immediately after planting, water the plants daily until they are established. If it doesn't rain regularly in your area, provide the plants with about 1 inch of water a week.
How do you take care of snapdragons in the fall? ›
Snapdragons grow best in soil amended with organic matter that is well drained. Be sure to water them on a regular basis throughout fall and winter. Taller varieties will require support. Remove old flowers after they have bloomed so the plants will not expend energy on producing seeds.
How do you rejuvenate snapdragons? ›
Deadheading will help keep your snapdragons blooming throughout the summer. Remove the faded flowers just below the flower stem and above a set of healthy leaves. This will keep the new blooms coming. If the plant becomes leggy (long stems and few leaves) prune back further along the stem.
Will snapdragons come back after a freeze? ›
Answer: Although the flowers might have been damaged, pansies and snapdragons are hardy into the teens and should come through the recent cold just fine.
Will snapdragons reseed themselves? ›
Most snapdragons are hardy in USDA Zones 7-11, or more likely 8-11. While they may grow back in spring in warmer regions, they don't seem to bloom with the same vigor as they did in their first year. In colder regions, snapdragons won't survive the winter but may self-seed.
Snapdragons do best in rich, well-draining soil in a sunny location, though they will tolerate part shade. Pinching off the stem tips on young plants will make them thicker and bushier, and deadheading the spent flowers will extend the bloom season, often right into the first frost of the late fall or early winter.
Do snapdragons need frost protection? ›
Hardy through the winter
Many gardeners don't realize snapdragons are so cold hardy. Once established in the bed and hardened off, they can withstand sub-freezing temperatures. Make sure they stay well watered during cold spells and add a layer of pine straw mulch, and they can last for quite some time.
Can snapdragons overwinter in Zone 5? ›
Easy to grow from seed, snapdragons have spiked flowers that mingle well in the garden. Flowers may be classic (having two puffed petals that look like stacked berets) or azalea-flowered (fringed or ruffled). They often overwinter in protected areas up to Zone 5, and bloom best in cool weather well into fall.
Do snapdragons come back each year? ›
The answer is that they can be both. Some varieties of snapdragons are true annuals, meaning they grow, flower, set seed, and die all within one growing season. Other varieties of snapdragons are considered to be short-lived perennials, hardy in zones 7 to 11, which are usually grown as annuals.
Do deer eat snapdragons? ›
In general, deer do not eat snapdragons. These beautiful and fragrant plants will attract wildlife like butterflies and hummingbirds to your landscape. However, snapdragons are deer resistant plants.
Will snapdragons survive a freeze? ›
Snapdragons love temperatures in the low 40s at night and low 70s by day, which make them ideally situated for fall in the South. Many gardeners don't realize snapdragons are very cold hardy. Once established in the bed and hardened off, they can take sub-freezing temperatures with no problem.
Do snapdragons come back next year? ›
While they may grow back in spring in warmer regions, they don't seem to bloom with the same vigor as they did in their first year. In colder regions, snapdragons won't survive the winter but may self-seed. However, that should be viewed more as a bonus than a guarantee.
