Hybrid

Madame Butterfly Red

Antirrhinum majus

Photo: Natalia Medd · Wikimedia Commons · (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Madame Butterfly Red is a hybrid flower variety maturing in 110-120 days. It produces delicate, butterfly-like blooms in deep red tones, ideal for ornamental gardens and fresh arrangements. Featuring a distinctive floral flavor with subtle bitter notes, it's prized as an elegant garnish rather than a primary flavor element. Best grown in full sun to partial shade.

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 Red in USDA Zone 7

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Madame Butterfly Red · Zones 7–10

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Growing Details

Difficulty

Easy

SeasonWarm season annual

FlavorFloral flavor with a slightly bitter undertone, intended for use as a delicate garnish rather than a primary flavor component.

ColorRed

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 Red blooms best in cool-to-warm temperatures and stalls out once daytime highs stay above 85–90°F. For two distinct bloom windows, start a second round of seeds indoors 10–12 weeks before your first expected fall frost — in most zone 7 areas, that means starting in late June or early July for transplants going in the ground in late August, carrying you through October. The spring flush from your February–March indoor sow and the fall planting from your summer sow cover the season without much dead time in between.

Don't try to succession-sow every two weeks the way you would with lettuce or radishes — at 110–120 days to bloom, tight intervals don't add up to anything useful. Two well-timed plantings per season is the practical approach.

Complete Growing Guide

Also known as an azalea type, Madame Butterfly's double petals create full, fluffy blooms for a Victorian look. 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 Red 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 Red 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 cut blooms should be stored upright in a clean vase with cool water (65-72°F) in indirect light, lasting 7-10 days. Change water every 2-3 days and trim stems at an angle. For cooler storage, keep in a refrigerator at 35-40°F to extend vase life. Preservation methods: air-dry individual petals on a flat surface in a warm, well-ventilated area for 1-2 weeks for culinary garnish use; freeze petals in ice cubes with water for decorative purposes; or press flowers between paper under weight for botanical preservation and floral crafts.

History & Origin

Madame Butterfly Red 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 blooms with Victorian garden appeal
+Reliable 110-120 day bloom time fits standard main season production schedules
+Easy difficulty level makes it accessible for beginner and commercial growers
+Edible flowers provide unique culinary garnish for upscale plating applications
+Suitable for both outdoor gardens and controlled greenhouse production environments

Considerations

-Floral-bitter flavor requires restrained use in culinary applications to avoid overpowering
-Double petals trap moisture, increasing susceptibility to powdery mildew and botrytis
-Victorian-style blooms may seem dated compared to modern single-petal snapdragon varieties

Companion Plants

Marigolds are the most practical companion here. French marigold varieties (Tagetes patula) emit thiophenes from their roots that suppress soil nematodes, and their scent tends to confuse thrips and aphids that would otherwise go straight for the snapdragon stems. Planting a row 8–10 inches in front of Madame Butterfly Red gives you a visual anchor at the bed edge without any real competition for height.

Alyssum is worth tucking in at the base of your snapdragons for a different reason — it's a reliable nectar source for parasitic wasps (Braconidae and Chalcididae families) that prey on caterpillars and aphids. It stays under 6 inches, so there's no light competition, and it covers bare soil that would otherwise dry out fast or invite weeds. Nasturtiums pull double duty as a trap crop, drawing aphids away from your snapdragons — just be ready to pull them once they get heavily infested rather than letting the aphid population build.

The three plants to keep at a real distance are Black Walnut, Eucalyptus, and Fennel. Black Walnut produces juglone, a compound that leaches through the root zone and stunts or kills a wide range of ornamentals — the affected area can extend well beyond the tree's drip line, so "near the walnut" is riskier than it looks. Eucalyptus releases allelopathic oils through its leaf litter and roots that inhibit growth of nearby plants. Fennel is broadly antagonistic to most flowering annuals and tends to suppress anything planted within a foot or two of it. All three cause damage that's easy to misread as a watering or soil problem.

Plant Together

Marigolds

Repel aphids, whiteflies, and nematodes while attracting beneficial insects

Alyssum

Attracts beneficial insects like lacewings and provides ground cover

Nasturtiums

Act as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles, plus edible flowers

Petunias

Repel aphids, tomato hornworms, and squash bugs

Zinnia

Attracts butterflies and beneficial pollinators, similar care requirements

Salvia

Deters pests and attracts hummingbirds and beneficial insects

Lavender

Repels moths, fleas, and mosquitoes while attracting pollinators

Cosmos

Attracts beneficial insects and provides complementary colors

Keep Apart

Black Walnut

Releases juglone toxin that inhibits growth of many flowering plants

Eucalyptus

Produces allelopathic compounds that suppress nearby plant growth

Fennel

Inhibits growth of most garden plants through allelopathy

Troubleshooting Madame Butterfly Red

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

Stems collapsing at soil level on young transplants or seedlings, often with a pinched, water-soaked look at the base

Likely Causes

Damping off (Pythium or Rhizoctonia spp.) — fungal complex that thrives in cold, wet, poorly drained soil
Overwatering combined with low airflow around seedling trays

What to Do

1.Water seedlings in the morning so the soil surface dries before nightfall
2.Use a sterile, well-draining seed-starting mix — not garden soil, which holds too much moisture and carries pathogens
3.Thin seedlings to at least 2 inches apart in trays to improve airflow; a small fan running on low helps

Powdery white coating spreading across leaves, usually showing up after plants have been in the ground 6–8 weeks

Likely Causes

Powdery mildew (Erysiphe antirrhini) — common on snapdragons, especially when days are warm and nights are cool with high humidity
Crowded planting that traps moisture and blocks air movement

What to Do

1.Strip and trash badly affected leaves — don't compost them
2.Space plants at least 10–12 inches apart at transplant time to keep air moving through the foliage
3.Apply a diluted neem oil spray (2 tsp per quart of water with a few drops of dish soap) every 7 days if the problem is spreading

Frequently Asked Questions

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

With proper care, these blooms typically last 7-10 days in a vase. Keep water cool and change it every 2-3 days, trimming the stems at an angle. Cooler room temperatures and indirect light will extend their vase life. Refrigerating the vase overnight can add several days to their freshness.

Is Madame Butterfly Red a good choice for beginner gardeners?▼

Yes, this variety is rated as easy to grow, making it ideal for beginners. It thrives in full sun to partial shade with minimal maintenance requirements. The azalea-type hybrid is well-suited for both outdoor gardens and greenhouse production, and its predictable bloom timing (110-120 days) makes it reliable for first-time growers.

Can I grow Madame Butterfly Red in containers?▼

Yes, Madame Butterfly Red can be grown in containers for both outdoor and greenhouse production. Container growing offers flexibility and better control over growing conditions. Use well-draining potting soil and ensure pots have adequate drainage holes. Regular watering and feeding during the growing season will support healthy blooms.

What do Madame Butterfly Red flowers taste like?▼

The flowers have a distinctly floral flavor with a slightly bitter note. Since they're used as edible garnishes, the flavor should be subtle—use sparingly in salads, desserts, and drinks. The delicate, Victorian-style petals add visual appeal and a gentle floral complexity rather than strong flavor, making them ideal for decorative culinary applications.

When should I plant Madame Butterfly Red?▼

Plant after your last frost date in spring for outdoor production. With 110-120 days to harvest, spring planting ensures blooms during the main season (group 3-4). For greenhouse production, timing can be adjusted to achieve desired bloom windows. Start planning 4-5 months before your target bloom date to accommodate germination and growth.

What are the light requirements for Madame Butterfly Red?▼

Madame Butterfly Red requires full sun to partial shade, ideally 4-6+ hours of sunlight daily. It performs well with either condition, offering flexibility in garden placement. Partial shade can be beneficial in very hot climates to protect the delicate double petals from scorching. East or morning light exposure is often ideal for optimal blooming.

How do I use Madame Butterfly Red flowers in cooking?▼

These edible flowers work beautifully as colorful garnishes for salads, desserts, and beverages. Their floral, slightly bitter flavor should be used sparingly to complement rather than dominate a dish. The full, fluffy double petals make them especially photogenic for plated desserts, cocktails, and upscale culinary presentations.