Are snapdragons perennial or annual?

Snapdragons (*Antirrhinum majus*) are tender perennials native to the Mediterranean. In USDA zones 7–10, they often overwinter and rebloom, especially when fall-planted. In zones 3–6, hard freezes kill them and they must be replanted annually. Most American gardeners experience t

Snapdragons are one of the more satisfying plants to understand correctly because the technical classification and the practical reality diverge — and knowing the difference changes how you plant and manage them.

The technical classification

Per Missouri Botanical Garden, Antirrhinum majus is described as a "tender perennial" typically grown as a cool-season annual. The plant originates from the western Mediterranean, where winters are mild and summers are hot and dry. In that climate it perennializes naturally.

The challenge in American gardens: snapdragons are killed by hard freezes (consistently below 25°F) and by sustained summer heat and humidity. This places them in a performance sweet spot during cool weather — spring in most zones, and fall in warmer zones.