Antirrhinum

Snapdragon

“graciousness and inner strength”

The snapdragon's Latin name, Antirrhinum, means 'like a snout', and generations of children have squeezed its blooms to make the dragon's jaws snap. Native to the rocky places of southern Europe, it came to symbolise graciousness and inner strength, a nod to its knack for flowering in unpromising ground. Its tall, colour-laden spires bring height and movement to an arrangement.

In season, and in the studio

Snapdragon is in season May to September, so it is in the studio this month. In the studio's bunches it is a secondary flower, the supporting cast that gives a bunch its shape and rhythm around the focal stem. The studio buys it in white, peach and raspberry, and at the bench each colour is read for its own meaning.

What each colour says

• Whitegraciousness and good will
• Peachgentle strength and warm sincerity
• Raspberrybold spirit and lively admiration

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