Antirrhinum majus 'Sonnet Crimson' (Sonnet Series)

RHS Plant Profile
snapdragon 'Sonnet Crimson'

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snapdragon 'Sonnet Crimson' RHS

RHS Recommended

Plants for pollinators
Herbaceous Perennial Annual Biennial
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A short-lived perennial, often grown as an annual, up to 60cm high, with lance-shaped green leaves, and racemes of crimson flowers from summer to autumn

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Sand, Chalk, Loam

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
1–2 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Sand Chalk Loam
Moisture
Well–drained or Moist but well–drained
pH
Neutral or Alkaline or Acid

Position

Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H3

RHS Recommended: for People & Planet

RHS Recommended Plants for People & Planet

For Water Resilience

Plants for Flood Resilience

Plants that can help manage heavy rain by catching rainfall, slowing surface run-off, encouraging water into the soil or taking it up through their roots, contributing to flood resilient gardens.

Plants for both Wet and Dry Conditions

Plants that cope with changing soil moisture, including wet winters and extended summer dry. Once established, they grow as wet and dry conditions alternate.

For Temperature Resilience

Plants for Temperature Cooling

Plants that cool air temperature by providing shade, transpiration, or reflection to reduce heat impact on people, animals, soil or other ground surface.

Plants for Wind Shelter

Plants with dense canopies often grown as a tall thick hedge or grouping can block wind and shelter gardens, buildings and people.

For Carbon Storage

Plants for Carbon Storage

Plants that can take up carbon (CO₂) through photosynthesis and store it within the plant or deposit it by their roots into the soil.

For Biodiversity

Plants for Pollinators

Plants that have flowering properties (pollen and/or nectar) that are particularly beneficial for pollinating insects such as bees, butterflies and hoverflies.

Growing conditions for maximum benefit

This plant will provide the maximum benefits if it is healthy and allowed to grow to maturity

For Bio-Diversity

  • Plants for Pollinators

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Plantaginaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Bushy
Genus
Antirrhinum can be annuals, perennials or sub-shrubs, with simple leaves and tubular, 2-lipped flowers which may be solitary or in terminal racemes, in summer and autumn
Name Status
Unresolved

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in a sunny position in well-drained soil. See antirrhinum trial 2026

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown at 16-18°C in late summer or early autumn, and overwinter young plants under glass, or by seed in early spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Wildlife gardens
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Patio and container plants
  • Flower borders and beds
  • Wall side borders
  • Bedding
  • Cut flowers

Pruning

No pruning required, but deadheading will prolong the flowering period

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids

Diseases

May be susceptible to antirrhinum rust and Powdery mildews; may also be susceptible to damping off, downy mildews, Fusarium wilt, leaf spots, sclerotinia diseases, shothole, Verticillium wilt, and other wilts