Avignon Deep Orange II
Antirrhinum majus
Photo: Christian Ferrer · Wikimedia Commons · (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Classic orange snapdragon. Robust stems, high-quality blooms, and uniform growth in the field or greenhouse. Group 2 snapdragon bred for performance under short days and low temperatures. We've found the Avignon series to be more adaptable than most Group 2 snapdragons, in that the plants produce strong stems and high-quality blooms even under slightly warmer and longer days than would be ideal for a Group 2 series. Avignon performs well in our spring and fall trials both in the field and tunnel, and overwintered (fall-planted inside an unheated tunnel for early spring flowering). Flower quality and stem quality are reduced under long days and high temperatures. Edible Flowers: The flowers are a colorful garnish for use in salads, desserts, and drinks. The flavor is floral and slightly bitter, so use sparingly.
Harvest
100-110d
Days to harvest
Sun
Full sun to partial shade
Zones
7–10
USDA hardiness
Height
0-3 feet
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Avignon Deep Orange II in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 flower →Zone Map
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Avignon Deep Orange II · Zones 7–10
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
| Zone | Indoor Start | Transplant | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | May – June | July – August | July – September | — |
| Zone 2 | April – May | June – July | June – August | — |
| Zone 11 | January – January | January – February | January – March | — |
| Zone 12 | January – January | January – February | January – March | — |
| Zone 13 | January – January | January – February | January – March | — |
| Zone 3 | April – May | June – July | June – August | — |
| Zone 4 | March – April | June – June | June – July | — |
| Zone 5 | March – April | May – June | May – July | — |
| Zone 6 | March – April | May – June | May – July | — |
| Zone 7 | February – March | April – May | April – June | — |
| Zone 8 | February – March | April – May | April – June | — |
| Zone 9 | January – February | March – April | March – May | — |
| Zone 10 | January – January | February – March | February – April | — |
Succession Planting
Snapdragons slow down and get leggy once daytime highs push past 85°F consistently, so succession sowing is worth doing if you want continuous cut flowers across spring and early summer. Start a second round of seeds indoors 6–8 weeks after your first indoor sow — so roughly late March to early April for a February start — and transplant that batch in early May. That staggers your peak bloom by 3–4 weeks and extends your cutting window without much extra effort.
Once your area hits sustained summer heat, don't bother sowing more; the plants will stall out. A late-summer indoor sow in August can give you a fall flush in zones 7–10, where nights drop back into the 50s°F by October. Transplant that batch in September and you'll often get blooms through November, sometimes longer.
Complete Growing Guide
Classic orange snapdragon. Robust stems, high-quality blooms, and uniform growth in the field or greenhouse. Group 2 snapdragon bred for performance under short days and low temperatures. We've found the Avignon series to be more adaptable than most Group 2 snapdragons, in that the plants produce strong stems and high-quality blooms even under slightly warmer and longer days than would be ideal for a Group 2 series. Avignon performs well in our spring and fall trials both in the field and tunnel, and overwintered (fall-planted inside an unheated tunnel for early spring flowering). Flower quality and stem quality are reduced under long days and high temperatures. Edible Flowers: The flowers are a colorful garnish for use in salads, desserts, and drinks. The flavor is floral and slightly bitter, so use sparingly. According to Johnny's Selected Seeds, Avignon Deep Orange II is 100 - 110 days to maturity, annual, hybrid (f1). Notable features: Greenhouse Performer, Use for Cut Flowers and Bouquets, Fragrant.
Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day), Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours). Soil: High Organic Matter. Drainage: Good Drainage. Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 0 ft. 6 in. - 0 ft. 10 in.. Spacing: Less than 12 inches. Growth rate: Medium. Maintenance: Medium.
Harvesting
Avignon Deep Orange II reaches harvest at 100 - 110 days from sowing per Johnny's Selected Seeds. As an annual, harvest continues until frost ends the season.
A capsule, half hidden by calyx lobes, short-beaked.
Type: Capsule. Length: 1-3 inches.
Storage & Preservation
For cut flowers, store Avignon Deep Orange II snapdragons in a clean vase filled with cool water (65-70°F) in a cool room away from direct sunlight and ripening fruit. Change water every 2-3 days and trim stems at an angle. Shelf life is typically 7-10 days. To extend longevity, use a flower preservative solution or add a small amount of sugar and bleach to the water. For drying, hang bundles upside-down in a warm, dark, well-ventilated space for 2-3 weeks. Alternatively, press flowers between parchment paper under weight for floral crafts.
History & Origin
Avignon Deep Orange II is an F1 hybrid developed through controlled cross-pollination. Listed in the Johnny's Selected Seeds catalog.
Origin: Southwestern Europe
Advantages
- +Robust stems and high-quality blooms ideal for cutting and arrangements
- +Adaptable Group 2 snapdragon performs well in spring and fall
- +Tolerates slightly warmer conditions better than typical Group 2 varieties
- +Successfully overwinters in unheated tunnels for early spring flowering
- +Edible flowers provide colorful garnish for culinary presentations
Considerations
- -Flower and stem quality decline significantly under long days
- -Requires cooler temperatures for optimal performance and blooming
- -Takes 100-110 days to flower, extending time to harvest
- -Floral flavor is bitter, limiting culinary appeal without restraint
Companion Plants
The most useful companions for Avignon Deep Orange II are ones that pull double duty in a cutting or kitchen garden. Nasturtiums and Zinnias planted 18 inches away act as decoy crops for aphids — specifically the black bean aphid (Aphis fabae) and green peach aphid (Myzus persicae) that occasionally colonize snapdragon stems. Letting a few nasturtiums take a hit before you intervene keeps pressure off the snapdragons. Cosmos belong in the same bed for a different reason: they draw in parasitic wasps (Braconidae family) that work the whole planting, not just the cosmos themselves.
Lettuce is a quieter but genuinely practical fit — it tolerates the partial shade cast by mature snapdragon stems, and its roots stay in the top 4–6 inches of soil without competing for the same moisture reserves the snapdragons are pulling from deeper down. Basil is worth growing nearby if you're already raising it for the kitchen, but don't plant it expecting measurable pest-confusion benefits. That mechanism doesn't hold up well in practice for ornamental beds.
Black walnut trees are the hard no here. Juglone — the allelopathic compound walnut roots release — suppresses or kills many annuals outright, and snapdragons are sensitive enough that planting within 50 feet of a mature tree is a losing proposition before you start. Beans are a poor fit for a different reason: they fix their own nitrogen and prefer lean soil, while Avignon Deep Orange II responds well to steady fertilization every 3–4 weeks through the season. The fertility mismatch makes them awkward neighbors.
Plant Together
Basil
Repels aphids, whiteflies, and thrips that commonly attack marigolds
Tomatoes
Marigolds deter nematodes and whiteflies while tomatoes provide beneficial shade
Nasturtiums
Act as trap crops for aphids and cucumber beetles, protecting marigolds
Zinnia
Similar growing conditions and both attract beneficial pollinators and predatory insects
Petunias
Repel aphids, tomato hornworms, and other pests while sharing similar sun requirements
Peppers
Marigolds repel aphids and flea beetles that damage pepper plants
Cosmos
Attract beneficial insects and have complementary bloom times and colors
Lettuce
Benefits from marigold's pest-repelling properties and doesn't compete for nutrients
Keep Apart
Black Walnut Trees
Produce juglone which is toxic to marigolds and causes wilting and death
Beans
Marigolds can inhibit bean growth and nitrogen fixation through allelopathic compounds
Cabbage Family Plants
Marigolds may stunt growth of brassicas and reduce head formation
Troubleshooting Avignon Deep Orange II
What you'll see, why it happens, and what to do about it.
Gray fuzzy coating on stems, buds, or spent flowers, especially after a stretch of cool, wet weather
Likely Causes
- Botrytis cinerea (gray mold) — thrives in humid, stagnant air and loves dead or dying plant tissue as an entry point
- Crowded spacing under 12 inches that traps moisture between plants
What to Do
- 1.Deadhead aggressively — spent blooms are the primary entry point; don't let them sit on the plant
- 2.Thin or stake plants to open up airflow, especially if you went tighter than 12 inches
- 3.If the infection is active, remove and bag affected stems; don't compost them
Powdery white coating on upper leaf surfaces, usually showing up mid-summer when nights cool down but days stay warm
Likely Causes
- Powdery mildew (Erysiphe antirrhini) — a fungal pathogen specific to snapdragons that spreads by airborne spores, not water splash
- Overhead irrigation that wets foliage in the evening and doesn't dry before nightfall
What to Do
- 1.Switch to drip irrigation or water at the base early in the morning so foliage dries quickly
- 2.Apply a diluted neem oil spray (2 tablespoons per gallon) every 7 days at first sign — it won't cure existing infection but slows spread
- 3.Pull badly affected plants at season's end and rotate away from that bed next year; spores overwinter in soil debris
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do Avignon Deep Orange II snapdragon flowers last in a vase?▼
Is Avignon Deep Orange II a good snapdragon for beginners?▼
Can I grow Avignon Deep Orange II snapdragons in containers?▼
When should I plant Avignon Deep Orange II snapdragons?▼
What is the flavor of Avignon Deep Orange II snapdragon flowers?▼
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Growing Guides from Wind River Greens
Where to Buy Seeds
Sources & References
External authority sources used in compiling this guide.
- BreederJohnny's Selected Seeds
See the Methodology page for how this data is sourced, what's AI-assisted, and known limitations.