Hybrid

Orleans Early Lemon Yellow

Antirrhinum majus

Wikimedia Commons

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 Orleans Early Lemon Yellow in USDA Zone 7

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Zone Map

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Orleans Early Lemon Yellow · Zones 7–10

What grows well in Zone 7? →

Growing Details

Difficulty

Easy

SeasonWarm season annual

ColorPale lemon-yellow with gold center

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

Orleans Early Lemon Yellow keeps pushing new spikes as long as you deadhead every few days, so one well-timed planting carries you a long way — succession isn't really the strategy here. That said, if you want a longer total display window, start a second tray indoors in late February while your first batch goes out as transplants in April. Stop transplanting by late May in zone 7; once daytime highs are consistently above 85–90°F, bloom shuts down and the plants idle until temperatures drop again in fall.

Complete Growing Guide

Pale lemon-yellow florets with a touch of gold at the center of the bloom. 5-7 days earlier than the standard Potomac series. Strong stems, uniform plants and blooms. For field or greenhouse. Group 3-4: considered a "main season" or "all season" variety. 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, Orleans Early Lemon Yellow is 105 - 115 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

Orleans Early Lemon Yellow 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

Orleans Early Lemon Yellow flowers are best used fresh and should be harvested in the morning after dew dries. Store unwashed blooms in a breathable container (not sealed) in the refrigerator at 35-40°F with moderate humidity for up to 5-7 days. For preservation, dry flowers by hanging in a cool, dark, well-ventilated space for 2-3 weeks—dried blooms retain color and can be used for tea infusions or decorative purposes. Alternatively, freeze flowers in ice cubes with water for long-term storage (up to 3 months), perfect for chilled beverages. Candying petals with egg white and sugar creates an elegant, shelf-stable garnish lasting several weeks.

History & Origin

Orleans Early Lemon Yellow is an F1 hybrid developed through controlled cross-pollination. Listed in the Johnny's Selected Seeds catalog.

Origin: Southwestern Europe

Advantages

+Blooms 5-7 days earlier than standard Potomac series varieties
+Pale lemon-yellow flowers with gold centers offer unique visual appeal
+Strong stems ensure excellent cut flower and arrangement potential
+Edible flowers provide decorative garnish option for culinary applications
+Uniform plant and bloom characteristics simplify commercial greenhouse production

Considerations

-Slightly bitter floral flavor requires sparing use in culinary applications
-Snapdragons susceptible to rust and powdery mildew in humid conditions
-Requires consistent deadheading to maintain continuous blooming throughout season
-Pale yellow color may fade quickly in intense direct sunlight

Companion Plants

Marigolds (especially French types like 'Bonanza') are the most practical neighbor here — they deter aphids and whiteflies that occasionally bother snapdragons, and around here in zone 7 Georgia they're on the same warm-season transplant schedule, so you're not juggling two different timing windows. Sweet Alyssum planted at the border pulls in parasitic wasps that knock back aphid populations without much effort on your part. Keep Fennel, Black Walnut, and Eucalyptus well away — Fennel exudes allelopathic compounds that stunt many annuals, and Black Walnut's juglone persists in the soil and will stress shallow-rooted plantings like these snapdragons within its root zone.

Plant Together

Marigolds

Repel nematodes and aphids while attracting beneficial insects

Nasturtiums

Act as trap crops for aphids and cucumber beetles

Sweet Alyssum

Attracts beneficial insects like hoverflies and parasitic wasps

Zinnia

Attracts pollinators and beneficial predatory insects

Cosmos

Provides habitat for beneficial insects and attracts pollinators

Petunias

Repel aphids, tomato hornworms, and other garden pests

Calendula

Attracts beneficial insects and may repel certain garden pests

Lavender

Repels moths, fleas, and mosquitoes while attracting pollinators

Keep Apart

Black Walnut

Produces juglone toxin that inhibits growth of many flowering plants

Eucalyptus

Releases allelopathic compounds that can stunt nearby plant growth

Fennel

Inhibits growth of most garden plants through allelopathic effects

Troubleshooting Orleans Early Lemon Yellow

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

Gray, powdery coating on leaves and stems, usually showing up midsummer when nights stay warm and humid

Likely Causes

Powdery mildew (Podosphaera xanthii or Erysiphe cichoracearum) — thrives in humid air with poor circulation
Plants spaced too tightly, blocking airflow between stems

What to Do

1.Remove and bin the worst-affected leaves — don't compost them
2.Spray with a diluted potassium bicarbonate solution (1 tablespoon per gallon of water) every 7 days until symptoms stop spreading
3.Next season, space plants at least 10–12 inches apart and site them where morning sun dries the foliage fast

Rusty orange or brown pustules on the undersides of leaves, with yellowing on the upper surface

Likely Causes

Antirrhinum rust (Puccinia antirrhini) — a snapdragon-specific fungal rust that spreads by windborne spores
Overhead watering that keeps foliage wet for extended periods

What to Do

1.Pull and trash infected plants or leaves immediately — rust spreads fast once it gets going
2.Switch to drip irrigation or water at the base; keep foliage dry
3.Apply a copper-based fungicide on a 7–10 day schedule if you're trying to save the planting, but heavily infected plants rarely recover fully

Stems collapsing at soil level in seedlings, sometimes with a pinched or water-soaked look at the base

Likely Causes

Damping off — typically Pythium or Rhizoctonia fungi in soggy, poorly draining seed-starting mix
Starting seeds in cold, wet conditions below 60°F soil temperature

What to Do

1.Ditch any affected seedlings immediately; the fungus spreads through the tray
2.Use a sterile, well-draining seed-starting mix and don't water again until the top inch is dry
3.Keep germination temps between 65–75°F and run a small fan over the tray to move air

Frequently Asked Questions

How long from planting to blooming with Orleans Early Lemon Yellow flowers?▼

Orleans Early Lemon Yellow typically reaches harvest in 105-115 days, and blooms 5-7 days earlier than the standard Potomac series. When started from seed in spring, expect flowers within 3-4 months. For earlier blooms, start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your last frost date to transplant into the garden when conditions warm.

Is Orleans Early Lemon Yellow good for beginner flower growers?▼

Yes, absolutely. This variety is rated as easy to grow and features strong stems with uniform, reliable blooms. It tolerates field or greenhouse conditions and requires minimal specialized care. The hybrid nature ensures consistent performance, making it ideal for first-time growers or commercial producers seeking dependable results.

Can I grow Orleans Early Lemon Yellow flowers in containers?▼

Yes, it can be grown in containers with well-draining potting soil and full sun to partial shade (4-6+ hours). Use containers at least 12 inches deep to accommodate strong stems. Regular watering and feeding during bloom season will support continuous flowering in pots, though garden beds typically produce more vigorous plants.

What does Orleans Early Lemon Yellow taste like as an edible flower?▼

The blooms have a floral, slightly bitter flavor profile. Use them sparingly as colorful garnishes in salads, desserts, and beverages rather than as a main ingredient. The pale lemon-yellow petals with golden centers add visual appeal and subtle floral notes without overwhelming dishes.

When should I plant Orleans Early Lemon Yellow seeds?▼

Plant seeds directly in the garden after your last frost date when soil has warmed, or start indoors 6-8 weeks earlier for transplanting. This variety thrives in full sun to partial shade with 4-6+ hours of light daily. In warmer climates, you can succession plant for continuous blooms throughout the season.

Why is Orleans Early Lemon Yellow considered a main season variety?▼

Classified as Group 3-4, this is a main season or all-season variety, meaning it flowers reliably during the middle to later portions of the growing season. Its 5-7 day head start over standard Potomac series makes it valuable for extending the flowering window in both field and greenhouse production settings.