It’s easy to grow your own flowers from seed. Here’s beautiful flowers, growing information & seed collections for gifts.
COUNTRY GARDEN SEED SHOP
Antirrhinum majus Madame Butterfly
Antirrhinum majus 'Madame Butterfly' Seeds
Madame Butterfly is a tall elegant Snapdragon with double flowers in shades of pale pink, deep pink, red, salmon pink, yellow and white. Snapdragons are great for cutting… their flowers add an interesting spire shape to bouquets and floral arrangements. Alternatively grow them in your borders with other tall plants such as Ammi or Larkspur.
Sow in spring for flowers this summer and autumn. You can also sow Antirrhinums in autumn if you need early flowers next year... perhaps for a wedding in May. Antirrhinums are actually short lived perennials so they will survive in a cold frame or unheated greenhouse over winter.
| Genus | Antirrhinum majus |
| Variety | Madame Butterfly |
| Plant Type | Treat as Half Hardy Annual (actually short lived perennial) |
| Height & Spread | 90-cm/3-feet tall x 30cm/ 1 foot wide |
| Sow Seeds | Sow seeds indoors in Mid February, March, April and May. Antirrhinum seeds are tiny and need light to germinate so sow them on the surface of compost and water carefully from below. Sow again in August/September for early flowers next year. |
| Thin/Plant Out | Prick seedlings out into individual cells and allow to grow on. Pot on if necessary. Pinch out the tips when the plants reach 10cm/4 inches to encourage branching. Wait until the soil has warmed up then plant outside 30cm apart after the last frost in May. |
| Conditions Required | To produce the best flowers Antirrhinums need nice rich soil and plenty of water until they are established. A sunny spot is best but they will tolerate dappled shade. Madame Butterfly grows to 3 feet tall so will need support of some kind. |
| Flower Production | Antirrhinums take 12 -14 weeks from seed to flower. March sown plants will be producing their first blooms in June. They usually flower for 3 months. Seeds sown in May will flower from August until October or even longer if the weather is mild. |
| Picking | Pick when it’s cool outside (early morning or evening) and stand them up straight in a tall narrow bucket of clean fresh water. Do not allow them to flop sideways because the tips will bend. Lasts 7-10 days in a vase. |
| Planting Combinations | Madame Butterfly grows well in a dedicated cutting garden and is lovely in a border with other long flowering annuals such as Cosmos, Dahlias, Rudbeckia and Zinnias. |