Snapdragon Groups Explained
What Are Snapdragon Groups?
Few cut flowers respond as strongly to their environment as snapdragons. Day length, light intensity and temperature all shape how well stems and flowers turn out.
Modern varieties are bred to perform best in particular conditions and seasons.
Breeders give snapdragon varieties a group number from 1 to 4 that shows which season they perform best in. Higher group numbers suit brighter light, warmer temperatures and longer days.
Note that group numbers don't measure cold hardiness or frost tolerance. All snapdragons like mild to moderate conditions and struggle in long spells of extreme heat. The numbers are a scheduling guide and describe how fast plants flower and how good the blooms are under different heat and light levels, not how cold hardy they are.
Timing Your Plantings According to Group
Schedule plantings by season, variety and group to get the longest stems and best flowers for your climate and season. The chart below shows when each group is meant to bloom.
Each variety's group number is listed in its product description on our site. Some varieties belong to one group and others span a range. For example, a variety might be listed as:
- Group 1
- Groups 1–2
- Group 2
- Groups 2–3
- Group 3
- Groups 3–4
- Group 4
| Flowering Periods for Snapdragon Groups | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter | Spring | Summer | Fall | |||||||||||||
| Low light and heat | Moderate light and heat | High light and heat | Moderate light and heat | |||||||||||||
| Group 1 | ||||||||||||||||
| Group 2 | ||||||||||||||||
| Group 3 | ||||||||||||||||
| Group 4 | ||||||||||||||||
Groups 1, 1–2, and 2 (Cool Season)
Group 1 example: 'Legend™ Light Pink'
Cool-season snapdragons are bred to do best with short days, low light and cool temperatures. They suit fall, winter and early spring production, indoors or, in mild climates, outdoors.
Grow Group 1 varieties only in the coolest part of the year. Groups 1–2 and 2 handle a little more heat and light, so they're more flexible and work in fall, spring and winter.
These are often called energy-efficient varieties because they grow and flower faster than higher groups. In cool, dim conditions that speed is a real advantage, cutting production time while still giving good stems and flowers. In bright light, long days and heat, though, they grow and bloom too fast and give short, thin stems and poorly formed spikes.
Groups 2–3 & 3 (Moderate/Warm Season)
Moderate- to warm-season snapdragons are bred to do best with medium to long days, moderate to bright light and warm temperatures.
Group 3 varieties are among the easiest to fit into a schedule. They grow and bloom faster than Groups 3–4 but still make good stem length and quality flowers with longer days, bright light and warmth. Grow them in the field or indoors for spring, summer and fall crops.
Groups 3–4 & 4 (Warm Season)
Warm-season snapdragons are bred to do best with long days, bright light and warm temperatures. Groups 3–4 grow more slowly and bloom later than lower groups, and that slower growth gives tall, strong stems and well-formed flowers in long, bright, warm days, conditions that would leave Group 1–2 varieties short, thin-stemmed and poorly flowered. Grow Groups 3–4 in the field or indoors for spring and summer crops in most areas. As with all snapdragons, they prefer mild to moderate conditions and don't like long periods of extreme heat.
