Hybrid

Madame Butterfly Bronze

Antirrhinum majus

Wikimedia Commons

Harvest

110-120d

Days to harvest

📅

Sun

Full sun to partial shade

☀️

Zones

7–10

USDA hardiness

🗺️

Height

0-3 feet

📏

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 Madame Butterfly Bronze in USDA Zone 7

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Madame Butterfly Bronze · Zones 7–10

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Growing Details

Difficulty

Easy

Spacing<UNKNOWN>

Soil<UNKNOWN>

WaterRegular

SeasonWarm season annual

FlavorFloral and slightly bitter, best used sparingly as a delicate garnish.

ColorApricot coral

Size3-4 "

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

Madame Butterfly Bronze puts on its best show in spring and again in fall, but it doesn't benefit from staggered succession sowing the way a salad green would — one planting per season is the standard approach. Start seeds indoors in February or early March at soil temps around 65–70°F, transplant out in April once nights are reliably above 40°F, and expect blooms from late June onward. For a second flush, cut plants back by about one-third in July and side-dress with a balanced granular fertilizer (10-10-10 at roughly half the bag rate); they'll often rebound for a fall show before frost shuts them down.

Complete Growing Guide

Also known as an azalea type, Madame Butterfly's double petals create full, fluffy blooms for a Victorian look. A beautiful flower in a lovely shade of apricot/coral. For outdoor or greenhouse production. Bloom time comparable to group 3-4 "main season" or "all season" varieties. 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, Madame Butterfly Bronze is 110 - 120 days to maturity, annual, hybrid (f1). Notable features: 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

Madame Butterfly Bronze reaches harvest at 110 - 120 days from sowing per Johnny's Selected Seeds. Expect 3-4 " at peak. 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 blooms should be stored in a cool location; keep in a vase with fresh water at room temperature or refrigerate at 35-40°F to extend vase life to 7-10 days. Change water every 2-3 days and trim stems at an angle. For preservation, dry flowers by hanging upside-down in a cool, dark, well-ventilated space for 2-3 weeks, or press flowers between parchment paper and books for 1-2 weeks. Frozen preservation: arrange flowers on a tray, freeze solid, then transfer to freezer bags for up to 3 months for decorative use.

History & Origin

Madame Butterfly Bronze is an F1 hybrid developed through controlled cross-pollination. Listed in the Johnny's Selected Seeds catalog.

Origin: Southwestern Europe

Advantages

+Double petals create stunning full, fluffy Victorian-style blooms
+Beautiful apricot-coral color adds warmth to any garden
+Comparable bloom time to reliable main season varieties
+Edible flowers provide unique garnish for culinary applications
+Easy difficulty level makes it beginner-friendly to grow

Considerations

-Requires 110-120 days limits growing windows in short seasons
-Floral flavor is slightly bitter, requiring sparing culinary use
-Double petals may trap moisture, increasing fungal disease risk

Companion Plants

Marigolds (French types like 'Bonanza' work well) deter aphids and thrips that will otherwise go straight for snapdragon buds, while alyssum draws in parasitic wasps that knock back whitefly populations. Nasturtiums pull double duty as a trap crop for aphids, keeping pressure off the Madame Butterfly plants nearby. In our zone 7 Georgia gardens, lavender planted along the bed edge attracts native bees early in the season when the snaps are first opening — a real benefit for a crop that depends on pollinators for reseeding. Fennel is allelopathic to most ornamentals and will visibly stunt neighbors within a few feet; black walnut roots excrete juglone broadly enough to cause wilting and dieback in annuals planted anywhere in its root zone.

Plant Together

Marigolds

Repel aphids, whiteflies, and nematodes while attracting beneficial insects

Alyssum

Attracts beneficial predatory insects and provides ground cover to retain moisture

Nasturtiums

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

Petunias

Repel aphids, tomato hornworms, and other garden pests naturally

Lavender

Deters moths, fleas, and mosquitoes while attracting pollinators

Cosmos

Attract beneficial insects like lacewings and parasitic wasps for natural pest control

Zinnias

Attract ladybugs, parasitic wasps, and other beneficial predatory insects

Catmint

Repels ants, aphids, and rodents while being drought-tolerant companion

Keep Apart

Black Walnut Trees

Release juglone toxin that inhibits growth and can kill snapdragons

Fennel

Produces allelopathic compounds that stunt growth of most flowering plants

Eucalyptus

Releases growth-inhibiting chemicals and competes aggressively for nutrients

Troubleshooting Madame Butterfly Bronze

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

Gray fuzzy coating on stems and buds, flower buds rotting before they open — often during cool, wet spring stretches

Likely Causes

Botrytis cinerea (gray mold) — thrives in humid, still air below 70°F
Crowded transplants with poor airflow between plants

What to Do

1.Remove and bag any affected stems or buds immediately — don't compost them
2.Space plants at least 10–12 inches apart and avoid overhead watering; drip or base watering keeps foliage dry
3.If the problem persists into a second flush of blooms, apply a copper-based fungicide per label directions

Rust-colored powdery pustules on the undersides of leaves, leaves yellowing and dropping by midsummer

Likely Causes

Antirrhinum rust (Puccinia antirrhini) — a fungal disease specific to snapdragons, spreads via wind-borne spores
Warm days and cool nights in the 55–75°F range, common in Georgia's April and early May

What to Do

1.Pull and trash infected leaves at first sign — the spores spread fast
2.Water at soil level only; wet foliage sitting overnight accelerates spread dramatically
3.Clean up all plant debris at season's end and rotate snaps to a different bed next year — Puccinia spores overwinter in leftover material

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do Madame Butterfly Bronze flowers last in a vase?▼

With proper care, fresh blooms typically last 7-10 days in a vase. Keep water cool (35-40°F if refrigerated), change water every 2-3 days, and trim stems at an angle to maximize vase life. Remove lower foliage to prevent bacterial growth.

Can I grow Madame Butterfly Bronze in containers?▼

Yes, this variety is suitable for container cultivation. Use well-draining potting soil and containers at least 12-18 inches deep. Ensure containers receive 4-6+ hours of sunlight daily. Container plants may dry faster, so monitor moisture regularly and water consistently throughout the growing season.

Is Madame Butterfly Bronze good for beginner gardeners?▼

Absolutely! This variety is rated as easy to grow, making it perfect for beginners. It's a forgiving hybrid that adapts well to various conditions and requires minimal maintenance. Blooms reliably in main season (group 3-4), providing consistent results for new growers.

What does Madame Butterfly Bronze taste like?▼

The edible flowers have a floral, slightly bitter taste. Use them sparingly as a colorful garnish in salads, desserts, and drinks. Their delicate flavor complements sweet dishes well, but avoid overpowering other flavors due to their distinctive floral profile.

When should I plant Madame Butterfly Bronze for maximum blooms?▼

Plant in spring after the last frost date. With 110-120 days to harvest, early spring planting ensures blooms during the main season (group 3-4). For continuous flowering, you can succession plant every 2-3 weeks, though this variety also performs well with single plantings.

Is this variety suitable for outdoor and greenhouse growing?▼

Yes, Madame Butterfly Bronze is designed for both outdoor and greenhouse production. In greenhouses, you can control conditions for reliable blooming. Outdoors, it needs 4-6+ hours of sunlight daily and thrives in full sun to partial shade conditions.