I’m just going to say it: Holy sh*t, I actually grew snapdragons. And I’m not talking about those cute little bedding plants that hug the ground. I’m talking about big, tall, architectural beauties—the kind of “line flowers” you see in high-end cut flower arrangements and think, “There’s no way I could grow that.”

Well, I did. But if you’ve been following my garden journey, you know it wasn’t exactly a straight line to success.

2025: The Year of the Triple Fail

Last year was… humbling. I tried to grow snapdragons three different times, and I failed every single one of them.

1. From seed: Absolute disaster.
2. Store-bought in pots: They shriveled.
3. Store-bought in the ground: They checked out early.

Maybe I started the seeds too late. Maybe I buried them too deep (those tiny seeds are finicky!). Or maybe, even though I bought from a local nursery, I ended up with a variety that just couldn’t handle our heat. You’d think the local shops would always have the right zone-specific plants, but sometimes the garden gods just aren’t smiling on you.

Why I Refused to Give Up

Despite the “fail-fail-fail” loop, I couldn’t let go of the snapdragon dream. If you’re a dog owner and a flower lover, you know the struggle. I love a good line flower to give my bouquets height, but so many of the classics—like Delphiniums and Foxgloves—are super toxic to pups.

Snapdragons are the pet-friendly MVP, listed as non-toxic to dogs by ASPCA. Plus, unlike Stock (which is another favorite of mine but refuses to cooperate with our climate), snapdragons actually have a fighting chance here.

The Secret Sauce: Fall Planting

It turns out the secret wasn’t a magic fertilizer or a better watering can. It was timing.

Instead of waiting for the spring rush, I ordered plugs in the fall. I got them in the ground and spent the winter “babying” them through our freezes. It felt a little counterintuitive to be tucked away in my coat while my baby plants were out there in the cold, but it worked.

Now? I am literally swimming in snaps. They are tall, they are vibrant, and they are currently the stars of my kitchen table.

What’s Next?

Because I can’t leave well enough alone, I’ve already ordered another round of plugs to plant this spring. I’m curious to see if an early spring planting can keep the momentum going or if the summer heat will cut them short.

Time will tell, but for now, I’m just going to enjoy the win. If I can go from a triple-failure to a snapdragon jungle, there’s hope for all of us!

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