Madame Butterfly
What's special about Madame Butterfly
Fully-double open-face snapdragon in mixed pastels. Long vase life, no jaw-shape.
Growing this variety
Madame Butterfly follows the same growing basics as Snapdragon. Variety-specific maturity above; everything else below applies to the whole Snapdragon family.
Germination
Spacing & depth
How to plant
Surface-sow the dust-fine seed on damp mix — do not cover. Bottom-water to avoid dislodging. Pinch tall varieties at 4–6 in to bush out. Loves cool weather; overwinter in mild-winter zones for enormous early spring spikes.
Grower's tip
Best cool-season cut flower. Groups I–IV describe day-length tolerance: I = coolest/shortest days, IV = heat-tolerant summer bloomers. Match to your season.
Soil preferences
Well-drained garden soil. Native/wildflower species prefer lean soil; cutting flowers prefer richer beds.
6.0–7.0
Work 1 in of compost into beds before sowing. Skip nitrogen fertilizer on wildflowers — it favors foliage over blooms.
Watering
1 in per week during establishment, drought-tolerant once rooted for most species.
Deep, infrequent soakings at the base. Overhead water on ornamentals promotes botrytis and rust.
Overwatered: rotted crowns, mildew, floppy stems. Underwatered: small blooms, curled leaves, quick fade.
Prefers top-watering — Top-water at the base in the morning. Overhead water batters open flowers and spreads botrytis on tightly-packed blooms.
Temperature tolerance
60–80°F (16–27°C) ideal for most annuals
50–65°F (10–18°C)
Cool-season annuals (larkspur, poppy, snapdragon) tolerate light frost; warm-season annuals (zinnia, cosmos, marigold) are frost-tender.
Container growing
Possible with the right cultivar
8–14 in (20–35 cm) wide
Compact and dwarf types do best in pots; tall cutting flowers need staking.
Succession planting
Sow cutting flowers (zinnia, cosmos, sunflower) every 3 weeks through midsummer for continuous cut stems.
Detailed harvesting
Cut in early morning when stems are turgid. For cutting varieties, harvest when the bud is just showing color and 1–2 outer petals have opened.
Post-harvest storage & preservation
Immediately re-cut stems underwater and place in clean cool water for 4 hrs before arranging. Petals can be dried on screens for potpourri or crafts.
Culinary, medicinal & other uses
Cut flowers, dried arrangements, pollinator habitat, edible garnishes (borage, nasturtium, calendula, viola).
Medicinal or traditional uses are shared for interest only — this is not medical advice. Consult a qualified professional before using any plant medicinally.
Seed saving
Mostly insect-pollinated (outcrossing).
For pure strains, isolate 150–800 ft or bag heads. Wildflower mixes are meant to cross freely.
Stop deadheading favorite blooms; let heads dry brown and rattling on the stem, then collect into a paper bag.
Your zone's planting calendar
Pick your USDA hardiness zone and we'll estimate the key dates for snapdragon in your area. These are regional averages — always check your own last-frost forecast before sowing.
My Madame Butterfly Snapdragon notes
Madame Butterfly Snapdragon seeds on hand
Track packets and loose seeds you already have. Private to your account.
Par level — leave at 0 for no alert. Anything below par shows on Seed Starting and your shopping list.
From your kitchen — grow snapdragon from what you already have
Deadhead less. Let the best blooms fade and set seed on the plant — that's your next year's packet.
- 1Mark 2–3 of your favorite flowers with a bit of yarn and stop deadheading them.
- 2Wait until the seed head or pod dries fully on the plant — brown, papery, and rattling.
- 3Cut whole heads into a paper bag on a dry day; shake or rub to free seed.
- 4Sieve out chaff and store cool and dry in a labeled envelope.
Storage: 2–5 years for most flower seed.
Order more seeds
Running low? Reorder from one of these seed stores.
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Other Snapdragon varieties
Antirrhinum majus Mix
100 daysTall 30–36 in classic mix — every color on strong straight cut-flower spikes.
Sonnet
100 daysMid-height 18–24 in cut-flower series in named colors and formula mix. Excellent uniformity.
Rocket
110 daysTall 36 in cut-flower series bred for hot summers — the go-to for southern growers.
Chantilly
110 daysButterfly / open-face type — no 'snap.' Ruffled azalea-like blooms in soft ombré tones on 30 in stems.
Giant Snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus)
100 daysTall, classic snapdragon with strong straight stems and large colorful blooms.