Snapdragon

When fall begins many gardeners head to the local garden center to purchase pansies and violas for their fall/winter bedding plants. Many overlook the lovely Snapdragon or "Snap" as some prefer to call
this cool weather flowering plant. In the south the Snapdragon will bloom right along with the pansies you have planted in your garden and will add some height for interest. When spring comes the Snaps will continue a little longer than the pansies.
Snaps are classified by how tall they grow. They can be as low as 6 inches or less or as tall as 3 feet. The blooms can be  double, bell-shaped or azalea-shaped and are white, yellow, purple, pink , lavender or red. The shades of color may be vivid or pastel.
As said Snaps like cool weather. They enjoy night temps of 40 degrees and day temp of 70 degrees. They like full sun but will tolerate a little shade. In the winter they need regular watering. Once they are hardened off they can withstand periods of sub-freezing weather. So it is important to get your transplants out in mid-October in the south to give them a chance to  get established before the very cool weather comes.
If growing the tall snaps a few helpful hints to keep them blooming: when the first spike of flowers fade cut it off at the base of the spike to prevent it from going to seed. This act will also encourage the plant to grow more spikes. These secondary spikes will be smaller but continue to produce flowers. Continue to pinch off old blooms because  if the plant goes to seed it will stop producing flowers.
Snaps are annuals but may self seed in your garden if conditions are right.  So when shopping for colorful fall bedding plants don't forget to pick up some Snapdragons and give them a try.