Snapdragon Lemon Sherbet seeds - Antirrhinum braun-blanquetii

Antirrhinum braun-blanquetii ‘Lemon Sherbet’ is a snapdragon that offers long spikes of ruffled flowers in cream and pale yellow tones that brighten beds, borders and containers from spring to autumn. This Mediterranean perennial is often grown as an annual in colder and wetter climates. It's a lovely, carefree flower for rockeries and dry gardens, also good for creating large containers to decorate a sunny terrace.

Antirrhinum braun-blanquetii ‘Lemon Sherbet’ belongs to the Plantaginaceae family, commonly called perennial snapdragon or Braun-Blanquet's snapdragon. Among its historical botanical synonyms is Antirrhinum meonanthum. The species originates from northwestern Spain and northeastern Portugal, where it naturally colonises limestone rocky areas, particularly cliffs and sunny walls.
The ‘Lemon Sherbet’ cultivar is a recent horticultural selection distinguished from the species by its lighter-coloured flowers, ranging from creamy white to pale yellow. This plant has an upright, bushy habit, with erect stems becoming woody at the base, reaching 50-60 cm in height in open ground, and a spread of 30 to 40 cm. In pots, dimensions are generally more modest, around 40 cm in height and 25 cm in width. With rapid growth, this plant can flower in the first year after sowing. The foliage consists of oblong to elliptical, finely downy, dark green leaves, measuring between 25 and 60 mm long and 4 to 15 mm wide. The stems are slightly hairy. Flowering extends from May to October, depending on the climate. It takes the form of upright, 5 to 20 cm long spikes bearing flowers 3 to 4 cm long, cream with a yellow throat. The flowers, typical of snapdragons, have a two-lipped corolla and are slightly fragrant. Pollination is mainly carried out by insects, particularly bees and butterflies. The fruits are elongated capsules, about 1.5 cm long, containing numerous small seeds. The foliage is evergreen in mild climates, but may become deciduous elsewhere. The root system is a taproot, with well-developed secondary roots, giving the plant good drought resistance.​

Standing out in the sun with its upright flower spikes and pastel colouring, snapdragon ‘Lemon Sherbet’ fits into sunny beds, natural borders and dry rockeries. It pairs well with ornamental grasses for dry soil, baby sages (Salvia microphylla) and other Mediterranean perennials like oreganos. In pots, it provides a bright touch for many weeks on balconies or terraces. Its long flowering period and drought resistance make it an excellent plant for low-maintenance gardens.

The species name braun-blanquetii pays homage to the Swiss botanist Josias Braun-Blanquet (1884–1980), a pioneer of phytosociology. This snapdragon, although less known than its annual cousins, is appreciated for its robustness and ability to adapt to difficult growing conditions, such as poor and calcareous soils.
The snapdragon owes its common name to the particular shape of its flowers, which open like a mouth when pinched.

Warning: seeds reserved for experienced gardeners accustomed to sowing very fine seeds. These seeds are as fine as dust, barely visible to the naked eye.