Hybrid

Monaco Orange

Antirrhinum majus

Photo: Krzysztof Golik · Wikimedia Commons · (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Group 3 snapdragon well-suited for production under long days and high light. Unique and deeply pigmented orange color with touches of coral and rose - a standout color in our trials. The coloring is quite a bit darker than our other orange and bronze snapdragon. Excellent performance in the field or greenhouse. Uniform, high-quality blooms. 5-10 days earlier to bloom than Potomac Orange in our trials. This variety 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

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 Monaco Orange in USDA Zone 7

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Zone Map

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Monaco Orange · Zones 7–10

What grows well in Zone 7? →

Growing Details

Difficulty

Easy

SeasonWarm season annual

FlavorFloral with slightly bitter notes; use sparingly as a delicate garnish.

ColorDeep orange with coral and rose touches

Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar

Zone	Indoor Start	Transplant	Direct Sow	Harvest
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	—
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	—

Succession Planting

Monaco Orange blooms over a long window rather than producing a single flush, so you don't need to stagger plantings the way you would with a lettuce or radish. That said, snapdragons go dormant or quit setting buds once Georgia's daytime highs push past 90°F through July and August. If you want color from spring into fall, start a second round of seeds indoors in late June and get those transplants into the ground by mid-August, once the worst heat has broken. That planting will carry you through October without much fuss.

Complete Growing Guide

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

Monaco Orange 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 cut Monaco Orange snapdragon flowers, store stems in a vase with fresh, cool water (65-72°F) in a cool location away from direct sunlight and ripening fruit. Keep in the refrigerator if you want to extend vase life, which typically lasts 7-10 days when properly maintained. For preservation, air-dry bundles in a well-ventilated, dark space for dried arrangements lasting several months. Alternatively, press individual florets between newspaper for botanical crafts. For edible use as garnish, store fresh flowers in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 3-5 days on damp paper towels.

History & Origin

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

Origin: Southwestern Europe

Advantages

+Deeply pigmented orange with coral and rose undertones stands out distinctly
+Blooms 5-10 days earlier than Potomac Orange for quicker harvests
+Performs excellently in both field and greenhouse production settings
+Uniform, high-quality blooms suitable for commercial or ornamental arrangements
+Suitable for spring plantings and overwintering in appropriate climates

Considerations

-Requires long days and high light conditions for optimal performance
-Floral, slightly bitter flavor limits edible flower culinary applications
-Darker pigmentation may appear less vibrant in low-light conditions

Companion Plants

Marigolds — French types like 'Bonanza' in particular — repel aphids and thrips that would otherwise work over your snapdragon spikes, and the warm color palette sits well next to Monaco Orange in a cut-flower bed. Sweet Alyssum planted at the base draws in parasitic wasps that keep whitefly pressure down. In our zone 7 Georgia gardens, Cosmos and Zinnia are the most practical companions because they share the same transplant window and their roots don't compete with snapdragons at the same depth. Black Walnut and Eucalyptus are the ones to pull far from this bed — both release allelopathic compounds (juglone and cineole, respectively) that stunt Antirrhinum before you'd even notice a problem starting.

Plant Together

Marigolds

Repel aphids, whiteflies, and nematodes while attracting beneficial insects

Sweet Alyssum

Attracts beneficial insects like lacewings and hover flies that control pests

Nasturtiums

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

Petunias

Repel aphids, tomato hornworms, and squash bugs naturally

Lavender

Deters moths, fleas, and flies while attracting pollinators

Cosmos

Attract beneficial insects and provide habitat for predatory beetles

Zinnia

Attract butterflies and beneficial insects while providing color contrast

Catnip

Repels mosquitoes, ants, and aphids more effectively than DEET

Keep Apart

Black Walnut

Produces juglone toxin that inhibits growth and can kill sensitive plants

Eucalyptus

Releases allelopathic compounds that suppress nearby plant growth

Sunflowers

Can stunt growth of nearby plants through allelopathic root secretions

Troubleshooting Monaco Orange

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

White powdery coating on leaves and stems, usually showing up mid-summer when nights cool slightly

Likely Causes

Powdery mildew (Podosphaera xanthii) — fungal spores spread by wind, thrives in humid air with dry leaf surfaces
Crowded spacing that traps moisture and cuts airflow between plants

What to Do

1.Remove and trash (not compost) the worst-affected stems immediately
2.Spray with a potassium bicarbonate solution or diluted neem oil every 7 days until symptoms stop spreading
3.Next season, give plants at least 10–12 inches between them and site them where morning sun dries the foliage fast

Orange or rust-colored pustules on the undersides of leaves, with yellow patches on top

Likely Causes

Antirrhinum rust (Puccinia antirrhini) — a fungal disease specific to snapdragons, spreads by wind-borne spores and overhead watering

What to Do

1.Pull and bag affected leaves — don't let them fall to the soil
2.Switch to drip irrigation or water at the base only; wet foliage overnight is what this disease needs to spread
3.Apply a copper-based fungicide on a 7–10 day schedule if the infection is widespread

Plants wilting and collapsing at the soil line, stems look pinched or rotted at the base

Likely Causes

Botrytis crown rot (Botrytis cinerea) — favored by cool, wet spring conditions and poor drainage
Overwatering in heavy clay soil that stays saturated after rain

What to Do

1.Pull the affected plant entirely — snapdragon crown tissue doesn't recover once it's rotted through
2.Amend beds with compost or coarse sand to improve drainage before replanting
3.Let the soil surface dry out between waterings; these aren't drought-sensitive enough to need daily water

Spindly, flopping stems that don't hold up the flower spike, even with adequate sun

Likely Causes

Transplanting into outdoor beds before nighttime temps are reliably above 45°F, which stresses young plants during root establishment
Overfeeding with high-nitrogen fertilizer that pushes leafy growth at the expense of stem structure

What to Do

1.Pinch the growing tip once at transplant to encourage branching and a sturdier base — it delays first bloom by about a week but the plant holds itself up much better
2.Switch to a low-nitrogen, phosphorus-forward fertilizer (something like a 5-10-10) once plants are established
3.Stake individual spikes with bamboo canes if you're cutting for arrangements and can't wait for the plant to bulk up

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do Monaco Orange snapdragon flowers last in a vase?▼

Monaco Orange snapdragon stems typically last 7-10 days in a vase when properly maintained. To extend their lifespan, use fresh, cool water (65-72°F), change the water every 2-3 days, trim the stems at an angle, and keep them away from direct sunlight and ripening fruits like apples, which release ethylene gas that wilts flowers faster.

Can I grow Monaco Orange snapdragons in containers?▼

Yes, Monaco Orange snapdragons grow well in containers. Use well-draining potting soil and ensure the container has adequate drainage holes. Group 3 snapdragons are robust growers, so containers 8-10 inches deep work nicely. Ensure they receive 4-6+ hours of sunlight daily and water regularly to keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged.

Is Monaco Orange snapdragon good for beginners?▼

Absolutely. Monaco Orange is classified as Easy difficulty and is well-suited for beginners. It performs excellently in both field and greenhouse settings, produces uniform high-quality blooms, and thrives under long days and high light. Its reliable performance and vibrant color make it an ideal choice for new growers looking for consistent results.

What does Monaco Orange snapdragon taste like as an edible flower?▼

Monaco Orange snapdragon flowers have a floral flavor profile with slightly bitter notes. The taste is delicate and somewhat vegetal, so they're best used sparingly as a colorful garnish rather than as a main flavor component. They work beautifully in salads, desserts, and drinks for visual appeal and subtle botanical flavor.

When should I plant Monaco Orange snapdragons for spring harvest?▼

Monaco Orange is particularly well-suited for spring plantings to achieve early summer harvests. With 105-115 days to harvest and blooming 5-10 days earlier than Potomac Orange, plan your planting so harvest aligns with peak market demand. The variety is also suitable for overwintering, offering flexibility in your planting schedule.

How much sunlight do Monaco Orange snapdragons need?▼

Monaco Orange snapdragons perform best with full sun to partial shade, requiring a minimum of 4-6+ hours of direct sunlight daily. They excel under long days and high light conditions, which enhances their deeply pigmented orange coloring with coral and rose touches. Adequate light ensures uniform, high-quality blooms.