About

Antirrhinum majus 'Circus Clowns' is a short-lived perennial frequently cultivated as an annual. It reaches heights of up to 45 cm and features lanceolate green foliage. From summer through early autumn, it produces racemes of bicolored blooms in a mix of white, yellow, orange, red, crimson, and pink.

About the genus

Antirrhinum consists of annuals, perennials, or sub-shrubs characterized by simple foliage and tubular flowers with two lips. These flowers can appear either individually or in terminal racemes, blooming during the summer and autumn months.

Growing conditions

Sunlight
Full sun
Soil type
Sand, Chalk, Loam
Soil pH
Neutral, Alkaline, Acid
Soil moisture
Well-drained, Moist but well-drained
Aspect
South-facing, West-facing
Exposure
Sheltered
UK hardiness
H3

Plant details

Plant type
Herbaceous Perennial, Annual Biennial
Habit
Bushy
Foliage
Deciduous
Height
0.1-0.5 metres
Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height
1-2 years
Suggested uses
Wildlife gardens, Cottage and informal garden, City and courtyard gardens, Patio and container plants

Care notes

Cultivation
Grow in a sunny position in well-drained soil
Pruning
No pruning required, but deadheading will prolong the flowering period
Propagation
Propagate by seed sown at 16-18°C in late summer or early autumn, and overwinter young plants under glass, or by seed in early spring
Pest resistance
May be susceptible to aphids
Disease resistance
May be susceptible to antirrhinum rust, and powdery mildews; may also be affected by damping off, downy mildews, Fusarium wilt, leaf spots, sclerotinia diseases, shothole, Verticillium wilt, and other wilts