Cannes Light Bronze II-III
Antirrhinum majus
Wikimedia Commons
Group 2-3 snapdragon, can be grown in the field or indoors and is well-suited for spring, early summer, and fall production. Despite the inclusion of "Bronze" in the name, Cannes Light Bronze II-III is a unique and beautiful cantaloupe color with touches of peach and rose. Uniform, high-quality blooms. Cannes Light Bronze II-III is about 5 days earlier to bloom than Potomac series in our trials. This variety is bred for the seasonal transitions between spring and summer, and summer and fall. Performs well for us in spring plantings for early summer harvests. Also suitable for overwintering. 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
105-115d
Days to harvest
Sun
Full sun to partial shade
Zones
7–10
USDA hardiness
Height
0-3 feet
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Cannes Light Bronze II-III in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 flower →Zone Map
Click a state to update dates
Cannes Light Bronze II-III · 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
Cannes Light Bronze II-III is a warm-season annual that peaks once per planting rather than rebounding continuously, but you can stretch the display season by staggering transplant dates. Start a second indoor tray 3–4 weeks after your first (so mid-February and mid-March), then move each batch out in April–May once soil temps are holding above 50°F. That gap in start dates shifts bloom time by roughly 3–4 weeks across the same bed without any direct sowing.
One thing to plan around: snapdragons set their best flowers in cooler conditions. Once daytime highs are consistently above 85°F, flower quality drops and plants often stall out entirely. In zones 9–10, a fall planting — started indoors in late July and transplanted in September — will outperform anything trying to push through peak summer. In zone 7, the spring window is more forgiving, but don't count on plants started after mid-May to give you much before heat shuts them down.
Complete Growing Guide
Group 2-3 snapdragon, can be grown in the field or indoors and is well-suited for spring, early summer, and fall production. Despite the inclusion of "Bronze" in the name, Cannes Light Bronze II-III is a unique and beautiful cantaloupe color with touches of peach and rose. Uniform, high-quality blooms. Cannes Light Bronze II-III is about 5 days earlier to bloom than Potomac series in our trials. This variety is bred for the seasonal transitions between spring and summer, and summer and fall. Performs well for us in spring plantings for early summer harvests. Also suitable for overwintering. 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, Cannes Light Bronze II-III is 105 - 115 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
Cannes Light Bronze II-III reaches harvest at 105 - 115 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
Fresh snapdragon flowers should be stored in a vase with fresh, cool water at room temperature (65-72°F) immediately after cutting, away from direct sunlight and ripening fruit. For extended freshness, refrigerate at 40-45°F in a humid environment when not displaying. Shelf life is typically 7-14 days in water. Preservation methods include air-drying flowers upside-down in a cool, dark space for dried arrangements (2-3 weeks), pressing flowers between parchment paper under weight for 1-2 weeks for craft projects, or freezing in ice cubes with water for decorative cocktail use.
History & Origin
Cannes Light Bronze II-III is an F1 hybrid developed through controlled cross-pollination. Listed in the Johnny's Selected Seeds catalog.
Origin: Southwestern Europe
Advantages
- +Unique cantaloupe color with peach and rose undertones distinguishes it from typical snapdragons.
- +Blooms 5 days earlier than Potomac series for faster market readiness.
- +Versatile production: suitable for field, indoor, spring, summer, and fall growing.
- +Edible flowers add premium garnish value to high-end culinary applications.
- +Suitable for overwintering extends seasonal production windows.
Considerations
- -Floral, slightly bitter taste requires sparring use in edible applications.
- -105-115 day maturity demands patient growers expecting longer production cycles.
- -Color name misleading; bronze expectations may disappoint customers unfamiliar with cantaloupe tones.
Companion Plants
Marigolds are the most practical companion here. French marigolds (Tagetes patula) release thiophene compounds from their roots that suppress soil nematodes, and they pull aphids onto themselves and away from your snapdragons. If you're planting Cannes Light Bronze in a mixed cutting bed or container display, a border of marigolds does real work. Sweet alyssum is worth tucking in at the edges — it flowers fast and draws in parasitic wasps (Braconidae and Chalcidoidea families) that prey on aphids and caterpillar larvae. It tops out at 4–6 inches, so it won't shade out anything, and the bloom timing lines up well enough with snapdragons to fill gaps without crowding.
Nasturtiums work as a pest magnet, pulling aphids and whiteflies onto themselves where they're visible and easy to knock off with a hose. That's a more honest description of what they're doing than any pollinator-attraction story — they're sacrificial, and they're good at it.
The companions to avoid are worth taking seriously. Black walnut trees (Juglans nigra) produce juglone through their roots and decomposing leaf litter — a compound toxic to a wide range of annuals, and Antirrhinum majus has no resistance to it. If there's a walnut on or near your property, the affected soil zone extends well past the canopy edge. Fennel is a subtler mistake in mixed beds; it releases allelopathic compounds that suppress nearby annuals, and it has no good neighbors. Keep it in its own container or its own corner entirely.
Plant Together
Marigolds
Repel nematodes and aphids while attracting beneficial insects
Nasturtiums
Act as trap crops for aphids and cucumber beetles, provide natural pest control
Caladiums
Provide complementary foliage texture and thrive in similar warm, humid conditions
Coleus
Offer contrasting foliage colors and share similar light and moisture requirements
Impatiens
Provide ground cover and bloom continuously in partial shade beneath cannas
Sweet Alyssum
Attract beneficial insects like parasitic wasps and provide low-growing border appeal
Begonias
Share similar watering needs and provide complementary flowering periods
Elephant Ears
Create dramatic tropical combinations with similar cultural requirements
Keep Apart
Black Walnut Trees
Produce juglone which is toxic to cannas and inhibits their growth
Eucalyptus
Releases allelopathic compounds that suppress growth of nearby flowering plants
Fennel
Inhibits growth of most garden plants including cannas through allelopathic effects
Troubleshooting Cannes Light Bronze II-III
What you'll see, why it happens, and what to do about it.
Stems collapsing at soil level on young transplants or seedlings, often overnight
Likely Causes
- Damping off (Pythium or Rhizoctonia solani) — fungal rot triggered by overwatering and poor drainage
- Planting out too early into cold, wet soil below 50°F
What to Do
- 1.Water only when the top inch of soil is dry; don't mist seedlings once they're past the cotyledon stage
- 2.Improve drainage in seed trays — use a coarse seed-starting mix and make sure trays aren't sitting in standing water
- 3.If starting indoors, run a small fan for 30 minutes a day to improve airflow around seedlings
Leaves and buds covered in a white powdery coating, usually showing up mid-summer
Likely Causes
- Powdery mildew (Podosphaera xanthii or Erysiphe cichoracearum) — fungal, spreads in warm days and cool nights, made worse by crowded spacing
- Planting in too much shade, which keeps foliage damp and limits airflow
What to Do
- 1.Remove and bag affected leaves — don't compost them
- 2.Spray with a diluted neem oil solution (2 tsp per quart of water) every 7 days until symptoms stop spreading
- 3.Next season, space plants at least 10–12 inches apart and prioritize the full-sun end of this variety's 4–6+ hour range
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do Cannes Light Bronze snapdragon flowers last after cutting?▼
Can you grow Cannes Light Bronze snapdragons in containers?▼
Is Cannes Light Bronze good for beginner flower growers?▼
What do Cannes Light Bronze snapdragon flowers taste like as edible flowers?▼
When should I plant Cannes Light Bronze snapdragons for spring harvest?▼
How much sun do Cannes Light Bronze snapdragons need?▼
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.