Cannes Orange II-III
Antirrhinum majus
Photo: Christian Ferrer · Wikimedia Commons · (CC BY-SA 4.0)
This Group 2-3 snapdragon can be grown in the field or indoors and is well-suited for spring, early summer, and fall production. Uniform, high-quality blooms. The Cannes II-III series is about 5 days earlier to bloom than the Potomac series in our trials. This variety is bred for the seasonal transitions between spring and summer, and summer and fall. Performs best 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 Orange II-III in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 flower →Zone Map
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Cannes Orange 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
Start seeds indoors 10–12 weeks before your last frost — late January to early March in zone 7 — and transplant out in April once nighttime temps hold above 40°F. Snapdragons are cool-season performers that stall hard once daytime highs push past 80°F, so a second round started in late July and transplanted in September can give you a solid fall flush before first frost.
Don't bother staggering sowings every two weeks the way you would with lettuce — the heat gap in midsummer cuts off any succession you plant anyway. Two rounds, spring and fall, is the practical ceiling for most climates in zones 7–10.
Complete Growing Guide
This Group 2-3 snapdragon can be grown in the field or indoors and is well-suited for spring, early summer, and fall production. Uniform, high-quality blooms. The Cannes II-III series is about 5 days earlier to bloom than the Potomac series in our trials. This variety is bred for the seasonal transitions between spring and summer, and summer and fall. Performs best 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 Orange 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 Orange 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
For fresh snapdragon flowers, store in a cool location or refrigerator (35-40°F) in a vase with fresh water changed daily. Shelf life is 7-10 days when properly hydrated. For preservation, air-dry flower spikes by hanging in a cool, dark, well-ventilated space for 1-2 weeks to create dried arrangements. Alternatively, freeze individual petals in ice cubes with water for decorative use in beverages, or press flowers between parchment paper and books for 2-3 weeks to create flat, decorative elements for crafts and culinary garnishes.
History & Origin
Cannes Orange II-III is an F1 hybrid developed through controlled cross-pollination. Listed in the Johnny's Selected Seeds catalog.
Origin: Southwestern Europe
Advantages
- +Blooms 5 days earlier than Potomac series for faster market readiness
- +Versatile for spring, summer, and fall seasonal production cycles
- +Suitable for both field and indoor greenhouse growing systems
- +Edible flowers add premium value as colorful salad and dessert garnish
- +Uniform high-quality blooms reduce grading time and waste
Considerations
- -Slightly bitter floral taste requires cautious, sparing use in culinary applications
- -Requires 105-115 days to flower, demanding longer production timeline investment
- -Snapdragons susceptible to rust and powdery mildew in humid conditions
Companion Plants
Marigolds and nasturtiums are the most practical neighbors here. Tagetes patula releases thiophenes from its roots that suppress soil nematodes, and the scent disrupts the host-finding behavior of aphids that would otherwise land on your snapdragons. Nasturtiums work as a trap crop — aphids pack onto them instead, and you pull the whole plant when it gets bad enough. Both stay low enough that they don't shade the snapdragon spikes.
For shadier edges, coleus and caladiums fill space without fighting for water, and the foliage contrast makes the orange spikes stand out more than they would against a plain mulch border. Black walnut is the one neighbor to avoid entirely — juglone leaches from the roots and can stunt or kill snapdragons even 40–50 feet out. Mint is a different kind of problem: it doesn't poison anything, it just spreads fast enough underground to crowd roots out before you realize it's moved in.
Plant Together
Marigolds
Repel nematodes and aphids while attracting beneficial insects
Nasturtiums
Act as trap crops for aphids and cucumber beetles, protecting cannas
Caladiums
Share similar growing conditions and provide complementary foliage textures
Coleus
Thrives in similar warm, humid conditions and provides colorful foliage contrast
Impatiens
Enjoys similar moisture levels and partial shade, creates attractive underplanting
Begonias
Compatible moisture and light requirements, adds complementary blooms
Hostas
Provides ground cover and shares preference for moist, rich soil
Ferns
Creates tropical appearance and thrives in similar humid conditions
Keep Apart
Black Walnut Trees
Releases juglone toxin that stunts growth and can kill canna plants
Mint
Aggressive spreading habit competes for nutrients and space
Eucalyptus
Allelopathic compounds inhibit growth of nearby plants including cannas
Troubleshooting Cannes Orange II-III
What you'll see, why it happens, and what to do about it.
Gray fuzzy coating on stems or flower buds, usually in cool, damp weather
Likely Causes
- Botrytis blight (Botrytis cinerea) — thrives in humid, stagnant air below 60°F
- Overcrowded planting that traps moisture overnight
What to Do
- 1.Remove and bag affected stems and buds immediately — don't compost them
- 2.Thin plants or increase spacing to at least 10–12 inches so air can move through
- 3.Water at the base in the morning, never overhead in the evening
Orange or rust-colored pustules on the undersides of leaves, with yellowing on the upper surface
Likely Causes
- Antirrhinum rust (Puccinia antirrhini) — a fungal disease specific to snapdragons, spreads by wind-borne spores
- Warm days and cool, dewy nights — classic rust weather
What to Do
- 1.Pull off and trash infected leaves at the first sign; don't let rust get ahead of you
- 2.Apply a sulfur-based fungicide on a 7-day schedule until conditions dry out
- 3.Next season, start with rust-resistant varieties and rotate beds away from last year's snapdragon location
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take for Cannes Orange II-III snapdragons to bloom?▼
Can I grow Cannes Orange II-III snapdragons in containers?▼
What do snapdragon flowers taste like and how do I use them?▼
Is Cannes Orange II-III a good choice for beginners?▼
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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.