Snapdragon stars – RHS People’s Choice winners
Bold bicolours, beautiful scent and classic flower spikes helped these snapdragons stand out from the crowd in the 2026 RHS Hyde Hall People’s Choice vote
Snapdragons (Antirrhinum) are popular summer plants, loved for their bright colours, long flowering season and appeal to pollinators. At RHS Hyde Hall, 132 cultivars were grown in the Antirrhinum trial, highlighting a wide range of colours, sizes and growth habits from breeders and growers across the industry.
The plants were displayed in formal trial beds within Floral Fantasia and in a nearby garden-style setting, showing how snapdragons can be used in borders, containers and for cut flowers.
Visitors were impressed by the diversity of antirrhinums on display in the trial, which highlighted the advances made through modern breeding in recent years.
RHS People’s Choice Winners
The RHS People’s Choice vote ran throughout summer 2026, inviting visitors to choose their favourite snapdragons from the trial. From bold bicolours and unusual colour combinations to classic flower spikes and scented blooms, visitors selected the plants that made the biggest impression.
First place
Antirrhinum majus ‘Floral Showers Red and Yellow Bicolour’ (Floral Showers Series)
The winning snapdragon won visitors over with its compact habit and vibrant red and yellow flowers. Ideal for containers and window boxes, its bright colouring and tidy shape helped it stand out among the trial entries.
Voters’ comments included:
- Striking!
- Small and compact
- Love the mix of bright colours
- Bright and cheerful
Second place
Antirrhinum ‘Opus Appleblossom’ (Opus III/IV Series)
This elegant variety impressed visitors with its tall flower spikes and creamy white blooms softly flushed with pink. Its classic snapdragon form and suitability as a cut flower made it a popular choice.
Voters’ comments included:
- Beautiful toned colours
- Very pretty flowers
- A classic, tall snapdragon
- Delicate scent
Third place
Antirrhinum ‘Opus Early Bronze’ (Opus III/IV Series)
Visitors were drawn to this tall snapdragon’s distinctive bronze-orange flowers and strong upright habit. Its unusual colouring and traditional flower spikes helped it secure a place among the favourites.
Voters’ comments included:
- Unique colour combination
- Upright with traditional flowerheads
- Lovely colours and nice, long stems
- Beautiful, deep, dusty colour combination
What visitors loved
Visitors were especially drawn to snapdragons with bold colours and unusual colour combinations, with bicoloured varieties proving particularly popular. Many comments highlighted flowers that stood out from a distance, whether through vivid contrasts, rich tones or distinctive markings. Fragrance was another recurring theme, with visitors frequently praising scented cultivars.
Tall snapdragons also remained firm favourites, with visitors praising the height, structure and elegance they brought to the display. Many were drawn to classic flower spikes that would look equally at home in a border or vase, showing that strong garden performance and visual impact were just as important as colour alone.
