Along with their entertaining name, snapdragons offer plenty of versatility in the garden. They have a long growing season, can be used in everything from edging to vase displays, and come in a wide variety of colors.

The flower's name derives from an irresistible quality of the petals. The Missouri Botanical Garden says the flowers have a closed, two-lipped appearance that, with a little imagination, looks like the jaws of a dragon. The University of Nebraska – Lincoln Extension says that when you open up these petals, they will snap back together.

Snapdragons are also known by the scientific designation of Antirrhinum majus. The Latin in the first part of this name roughly translates to "snout-like."

The Missouri Botanical Garden says snapdragons typically grow between one and three feet tall, with a spread of six inches to a foot. Their blooms will be red, orange, white, yellow, violet, or essentially every color except blue.

The University of Nebraska – Lincoln Extension says snapdragons come in dwarf, medium, or tall varieties. Each type works well as a border plant, though they can also be cut for a fragrant display. Left in the garden, the flowers will attract butterflies and hummingbirds.

Though the plant is a perennial, it is often grown as an annual. Donald Wyman, author of "Wyman's Gardening Encyclopedia," says snapdragons may be able to survive the winter in temperatures as low as 10 degrees.

This tolerance for cooler temperatures gives snapdragons plenty of time to grow. The Missouri Botanical Garden says the flowers will bloom from April until a hard frost. The Cornell University Cooperative Extension says flowers are likely to appear in mid-summer, late summer, early fall, and mid-fall.

Snapdragons grow best in areas with full sunlight. They can also tolerate partial shade.

Wyman says medium-heavy soil with good drainage is best for this plant, though lighter or heavier soils can also suffice if they are broken up and amended with organic material. Snapdragons grow best when the soil's pH level is neutral or slightly alkaline.

Because the plant can remain robust into the early winter, it is possible to transplant it to your garden later in the season. When growing from seed, the Cornell University Cooperative Extension recommends starting indoors about six to eight weeks before the last spring frost.

Space out the plants by about 10 inches. Smaller varieties of snapdragons can be located slightly closer together.

Once the plant reaches a height of about two to four inches, pinch the tips to encourage further growth. Wyman says this step may delay flowering, but it will allow more branching to occur for a larger bloom overall.

Taller varieties of snapdragon may need to be secured to stakes to prevent them from toppling over. The University of Nebraska – Lincoln Extension says staking should occur early in the season.

Snapdragons are vulnerable to several pests and diseases. Pests that affect the plant include aphids and spider mites, and you might consider a treatment of insecticide to protect the flowers. Wyman says honeybees may also tear the petals to access the flower's nectar, but this practice should not be discouraged.

Rust is the most likely disease to affect snapdragons. You can look for a rust-resistant variety or try planting in a different part of the garden if you notice this problem. Other potential diseases include powdery mildew, stem rot, and fungal leaf spots.

Wyman says you can leave a few flower spikes on the plant to encourage new growth year after year. These spikes will drop seeds into the soil, allowing them to start new seedlings each spring.