Avignon Ivory II
Antirrhinum majus
Wikimedia Commons
White florets with a subtle touch of yellow. 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 Ivory II in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 flower →Zone Map
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Avignon Ivory 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
Avignon Ivory II blooms best between 60–75°F and slows hard once daytime highs push past 85°F — which in zone 7 means your spring flush runs roughly April through early June. Start seeds indoors in February or March, transplant out in April after your last frost date, and plan on blooms around 100–110 days from seed. For a second wave, start another tray in late July and transplant in late August or early September; snapdragons tolerate a light frost down to 28–30°F and will often keep going into November.
Don't try to succession-sow continuously through summer — heat shuts them down regardless of timing, and you'll just lose the seeds. Two windows (spring and fall) is the practical ceiling for this variety in the Southeast. Deadhead spent spikes every 5–7 days to stretch each flush as long as possible.
Complete Growing Guide
White florets with a subtle touch of yellow. 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 Ivory 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 Ivory 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
Cut Avignon Ivory II stems last 7–10 days in a vase with fresh, cool water and floral preservative. Recut stems at a 45-degree angle every 2–3 days and remove lower foliage to prevent bacterial growth. Store fresh-cut stems in a cool room (50–65°F) away from ripening fruit, which produces ethylene gas and shortens vase life. For edible flowers, use immediately after harvest for best flavor and texture, or refrigerate in a paper towel-lined container for up to 2 days. To preserve edible flowers for garnish, dry them by hanging small clusters upside-down in a cool, dark, well-ventilated space for 1–2 weeks, then store in an airtight container with silica gel. Alternatively, freeze flowers in ice cubes with water for use in beverages, or press flowers between parchment paper under heavy books for 1–2 weeks to create decorative botanicals for special occasions.
History & Origin
Avignon Ivory II is an F1 hybrid developed through controlled cross-pollination. Listed in the Johnny's Selected Seeds catalog.
Origin: Southwestern Europe
Advantages
- +White blooms with yellow centers offer elegant, sophisticated garden or floral arrangements.
- +Robust stems and high-quality flowers perform reliably in spring and fall conditions.
- +Adaptable Group 2 snapdragon tolerates slightly warmer temperatures than typical Group 2 varieties.
- +Overwintering capability enables early spring flowering when fall-planted in unheated tunnels.
- +Edible flowers provide unique garnish options for culinary and beverage presentations.
Considerations
- -Flower and stem quality decline noticeably under long days and high temperatures.
- -Extended growing season of 100-110 days requires significant space and time investment.
- -Floral flavor is slightly bitter, limiting culinary appeal and requiring sparse use.
Companion Plants
Marigolds (especially Tagetes patula) earn a spot at the bed edges — their root secretions suppress soil nematodes, and their scent disrupts the host-finding behavior of aphids and whiteflies that would otherwise target your snapdragons. Alyssum is nearly as useful: it stays low, blooms within about 6 weeks of transplant, and draws in parasitic wasps (Aphidius and Braconid species) that keep thrips and aphid counts down without any spray. In our zone 7 Georgia gardens, pairing Avignon Ivory II with Catmint or Salvia makes particular sense — they share the same twice-weekly watering schedule and peak bloom timing, so one bed pulls double duty. Skip Fennel; it produces anethole compounds that suppress germination and slow growth in most nearby annuals, and it'll quietly undercut a snapdragon planting before you realize what's happening.
Plant Together
Marigolds
Repel aphids, whiteflies, and nematodes while attracting beneficial insects
Alyssum
Attracts beneficial insects like hoverflies and parasitic wasps for pest control
Lavender
Repels moths, fleas, and mosquitoes while attracting pollinators
Nasturtiums
Act as trap crops for aphids and cucumber beetles
Zinnia
Attracts butterflies and beneficial predatory insects
Cosmos
Attracts beneficial insects and provides complementary height variation
Catmint
Repels ants, aphids, and rodents while attracting pollinators
Salvia
Attracts beneficial insects and provides color contrast
Keep Apart
Black Walnut
Produces juglone toxin that inhibits growth of many flowers
Eucalyptus
Releases allelopathic compounds that suppress nearby plant growth
Fennel
Inhibits growth of most garden plants through allelopathic root secretions
Pests & Disease Resistance
Common Pests
Aphids, whiteflies, spider mites, thrips
Diseases
Powdery mildew, root rot, rust, damping-off in seedlings
Troubleshooting Avignon Ivory II
What you'll see, why it happens, and what to do about it.
White powdery coating on leaves and stems, usually appearing first on upper leaf surfaces in late spring or early summer
Likely Causes
- Powdery mildew (Erysiphe antirrhini) — airborne fungal spores that thrive in warm days and cool nights with low surface moisture
- Poor airflow from crowded planting at less than 12-inch spacing
What to Do
- 1.Remove heavily infected stems and dispose of them in the trash, not the compost
- 2.Thin plants or increase spacing to at least 12–18 inches to open up airflow
- 3.Apply a potassium bicarbonate spray (1 tablespoon per gallon of water) weekly until symptoms stop spreading
Orange or rust-colored pustules on the undersides of leaves, with corresponding yellow spots on top — often shows up mid-season
Likely Causes
- Snapdragon rust (Puccinia antirrhini) — a host-specific rust fungus that spreads via wind and overhead watering
- Wet foliage left sitting overnight from evening irrigation
What to Do
- 1.Strip affected leaves immediately and bag them — rust spreads fast if left on the plant
- 2.Switch to drip irrigation or water at the base of the plant early in the morning so foliage dries before nightfall
- 3.Rotate snapdragons out of the same bed for at least one season; rust spores overwinter in debris
Seedlings collapsing at the soil line within the first 2–3 weeks after germination, stems pinched-looking at the base
Likely Causes
- Damping-off — typically caused by Pythium or Rhizoctonia fungi in overly wet, poorly drained seed-starting mix
- Sowing too densely in trays, which keeps humidity high around seedling stems
What to Do
- 1.Use a sterile, well-draining seed-starting mix — not garden soil — and don't reuse trays without sanitizing them with a 10% bleach solution first
- 2.Water from the bottom by setting trays in a shallow dish, and let the surface dry slightly between waterings
- 3.Run a small fan near seedlings for 1–2 hours a day to improve air circulation and reduce surface moisture
Leaf tips curling downward, sticky residue on leaves, and small clusters of soft-bodied insects on new growth and buds
Likely Causes
- Aphids (Myzus persicae or Macrosiphum euphorbiae) — especially common on young transplants in April and May
- Thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis) — harder to spot, but cause silvery streaking alongside the curling and stickiness
What to Do
- 1.Knock aphids off with a firm spray of water from the hose — do this in the morning so plants dry quickly
- 2.For persistent infestations, apply insecticidal soap (2–3% solution) directly to affected areas; repeat every 5–7 days for 3 applications
- 3.Check for and remove ant colonies nearby — ants farm aphids and will actively protect them from predators
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does Avignon Ivory II take to grow from seed to flower?▼
Is Avignon Ivory II good for beginner gardeners?▼
Can you grow Avignon Ivory II in containers and pots?▼
What flavor do Avignon Ivory II edible flowers have?▼
When should I plant Avignon Ivory II for best results?▼
How does Avignon Ivory II compare to other Group 2 snapdragon varieties?▼
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.