Hybrid

Chantilly™ Light Salmon

Antirrhinum majus

Photo: F.W. Bolgiano & Co.; Henry G. Gilbert Nursery and Seed Trade Catalog Collection. · Wikimedia Commons · (CC BY 2.0)

Harvest

100-110d

Days to harvest

📅

Sun

Full sun to partial shade

☀️

Zones

7–10

USDA hardiness

🗺️

Height

0-3 feet

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Planting Timeline

Zone:

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Start Indoors

Transplant

Direct Sow

Start Indoors

Transplant

Direct Sow

Showing dates for Chantilly™ Light Salmon in USDA Zone 7

All Zone 7 flower →

Zone Map

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Chantilly™ Light Salmon · Zones 7–10

What grows well in Zone 7? →

Growing Details

Difficulty

Easy

Spacing6-12 inches

SoilWell-draining potting soil or garden loam, slightly acidic to neutral pH

WaterRegular—keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged

SeasonWarm season annual

FlavorFloral and slightly bitter—use sparingly as a delicate garnish

ColorLight salmon-peach

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 date — that's late January to early February for zone 7. Sow a second tray 3 weeks after the first to stagger bloom time through spring. Chantilly snapdragons drop flower production sharply once daytime highs hold above 85°F, so sowing after late April in most zones is wasted effort. Cut spent spikes back to 6 inches in midsummer instead; when temperatures fall back below 80°F in September, the plant will push a second flush on its own.

Complete Growing Guide

Group 1-2: Performs best under short days and low temperatures. Because Chantilly snapdragons are bred for short-day production, long-day growing conditions produce stems that are thin and weak. We do not recommend this variety for long-day production. Suitable for greenhouse or in the field. Bloom color is light salmon-peach. 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, Chantilly™ Light Salmon is 100 - 110 days to maturity, annual, hybrid (f1). Notable features: Greenhouse Performer, Use for Cut Flowers and Bouquets, Edible Flowers, 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

Chantilly™ Light Salmon 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

**Fresh Storage**: Cut snapdragon spikes last 10-14 days in a clean vase filled with room-temperature water and flower food. Change water every 2-3 days. Edible blooms are more delicate—store in a shallow, airtight container lined with paper towels on a refrigerator shelf (34-40°F) for up to 3 days; they wilt quickly once harvested.

**Preservation Methods** Snapdragon flowers dry exceptionally well. Hang-dry whole stems in a warm, dark, well-ventilated space (70-75°F, low humidity) for 2-3 weeks. Once dry, they retain color and structure for months and work beautifully in dried arrangements. For edible blooms intended for decoration, freeze individual flowers on parchment paper, then store in freezer bags (up to 3 months)—they're best used as garnish immediately after thawing, as texture degrades. Candying is also an option: brush blooms with egg white, coat lightly with superfine sugar, and air-dry on parchment paper for 24 hours for a decorative, edible finish.

History & Origin

Chantilly™ Light Salmon is an F1 hybrid developed through controlled cross-pollination. Listed in the Johnny's Selected Seeds catalog.

Origin: Southwestern Europe

Advantages

+Beautiful light salmon-peach blooms ideal for floral arrangements and displays
+Edible flowers add unique colorful garnish to salads and desserts
+Easy to grow with minimal difficulty for most gardeners
+Performs reliably in both greenhouse and field production settings
+Relatively quick maturation at 100-110 days to flowering

Considerations

-Not suitable for long-day production; requires short days and cool temperatures
-Long-day conditions produce weak, thin stems unsuitable for commercial use
-Floral flavor is bitter; requires sparkling use in edible applications

Companion Plants

Marigolds (especially Tagetes patula) repel aphids and whiteflies through both root exudates and foliage chemistry — they're doing real chemical work, not just standing there. Sweet alyssum draws in hoverflies whose larvae are effective aphid predators, so it earns its 6-inch strip along the bed edge. Nasturtiums pull aphid pressure away from the Chantilly by being a more attractive target — a legitimate trap-crop role. Skip sunflowers: they're allelopathic, their roots release compounds that stunt smaller annuals nearby, and at 5-6 feet tall they'll shade out a snapdragon that needs 4-6 hours of direct sun to bloom well.

Plant Together

Marigolds

Repel aphids, whiteflies, and nematodes while attracting beneficial insects

Sweet Alyssum

Attracts beneficial insects like lacewings and provides ground cover

Nasturtiums

Act as trap crops for aphids and cucumber beetles, drawing pests away

Lobelia

Provides complementary blue color and similar growing requirements

Petunias

Repel aphids, tomato hornworms, and other garden pests

Catnip

Repels mosquitoes, ants, and aphids while attracting beneficial pollinators

Zinnia

Attracts beneficial insects and butterflies, similar care requirements

Cosmos

Attracts beneficial insects and provides height variation in garden design

Keep Apart

Black Walnut

Produces juglone toxin that stunts growth and can kill sensitive plants

Eucalyptus

Releases allelopathic compounds that inhibit growth of nearby plants

Sunflowers

Can release allelopathic chemicals and compete aggressively for nutrients and water

Pests & Disease Resistance

Common Pests

Spider mites, aphids, whiteflies (especially in warm, dry conditions)

Diseases

Root rot (from overwatering), rust, powdery mildew (in cool, humid conditions)

Troubleshooting Chantilly™ Light Salmon

What you'll see, why it happens, and what to do about it.

Fine webbing on undersides of leaves, with stippled or silvery-bronze discoloration across the foliage

Likely Causes

Spider mite (Tetranychus urticae) infestation — thrives when temperatures climb above 80°F and humidity drops
Dusty, dry conditions that favor mite reproduction

What to Do

1.Blast the undersides of leaves with a strong stream of water every 2-3 days to knock mites off
2.Apply insecticidal soap or neem oil at dusk — full coverage on leaf undersides is what matters
3.Move susceptible plants out of hot, dry microclimates if you can; mites slow down when humidity rises

Orange or rust-colored pustules on the undersides of leaves, with yellowing on the upper surface directly above

Likely Causes

Antirrhinum rust (Puccinia antirrhini) — a fungal disease specific to snapdragons, spreads via airborne spores
Overhead watering or prolonged leaf wetness that lets spores germinate

What to Do

1.Remove and bag infected leaves immediately — don't compost them
2.Switch to drip irrigation or water at the base to keep foliage dry
3.Apply a sulfur-based fungicide on a 7-10 day schedule if the infection is spreading; don't spray when temps are above 90°F or you'll burn the plant

White powdery coating on upper leaf surfaces, usually appearing in fall or during cool, humid stretches

Likely Causes

Powdery mildew (Erysiphe cichoracearum) — spreads fastest in moderate temps (60-80°F) with high humidity and poor airflow, not during the hottest part of summer
Overcrowded planting at less than 6-inch spacing that traps moisture between plants

What to Do

1.Thin or space plants to at least 6 inches apart to get air moving through the bed
2.Spray with a diluted baking soda solution (1 tablespoon per gallon of water) or a potassium bicarbonate fungicide at first sign
3.Water in the morning so foliage dries before nightfall — wet leaves going into a cool night accelerate spread fast

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does Chantilly Light Salmon snapdragon take to grow from seed to flower?▼

From seed to first blooms takes approximately 100-110 days under optimal short-day, cool conditions. This timeline assumes you start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before transplanting and that growing conditions (photoperiod, temperature, light) remain consistent. In a greenhouse with controlled conditions, you'll hit this timeline reliably. Outdoor gardeners in long-day regions may see delayed or stunted flowering—this variety is not recommended for those conditions.

Can you grow Chantilly Light Salmon snapdragons outdoors in a garden?▼

Yes, but only during short-day seasons (fall through early spring in temperate climates). This variety was bred specifically for short days and cool nights; it will struggle miserably in long-day, warm conditions. If you live in a region with short winters and long summers, you'll only succeed in fall and early winter outdoor growing. Container growing offers flexibility—you can move plants to protect them from heat stress if needed.

Are Chantilly Light Salmon snapdragon flowers really edible?▼

Yes, the flowers are edible and food-safe, but use them sparingly. They have a floral, slightly bitter flavor that works best as a delicate garnish in salads, desserts, or cocktails—not as a main ingredient. Harvest blooms in early morning when fully open, rinse gently, and use immediately or refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 3 days. They're beautiful on the plate but taste is an acquired preference.

Why does my Chantilly Light Salmon snapdragon have weak, thin stems?▼

If stems are thin and weak, you're almost certainly growing under long-day conditions. Chantilly snapdragons are photoperiod-sensitive and were bred for short days (10 hours or less). Long days trigger poor growth genetics in this variety. Solution: grow only during fall and winter months, or use shade cloth to artificially shorten day length. Greenhouse growers should maintain consistent, short photoperiods. If you're in a long-day region, choose a different snapdragon variety instead.

How long do cut stems of Chantilly Light Salmon snapdragons last in a vase?▼

Properly conditioned cut spikes last 10-14 days in a clean vase with fresh water and flower food. Harvest when lower flowers are open but upper buds are still tight to maximize vase life. Change water every 2-3 days and remove any foliage below the waterline to prevent bacterial growth. Morning harvests, just after dew dries, perform better than afternoon cuts.

Is Chantilly Light Salmon a good snapdragon variety for beginners?▼

Yes and no. If you live in a region with true winters and can grow in fall/early spring, this variety is beginner-friendly—easy to start from seed and forgiving once established. If you're in a long-day region and attempt summer growing, you'll fail regardless of skill level. The key is matching your climate to the variety's short-day requirements. Read the requirements carefully before committing.