Is snapdragon poisonous? Can it be grown at home?

Is snapdragon poisonous?

The whole plant of snapdragon can be used as medicine. It has the effect of clearing away heat and detoxifying, and is mainly used to treat bruises and sprains. It tastes bitter and is cool in nature. It can be taken internally or applied externally.

However, only small amounts should be taken internally because snapdragon is toxic. Accidental ingestion may cause sore throat and tongue, difficulty breathing, stomach pain, etc. It may even cause itching in people with allergic skin. Therefore, medication should be used with caution.

Is snapdragon poisonous? Can I still keep it at home?

Snapdragon contains toxins, but it can be grown at home because its toxins are not harmful to the human body as long as you don't eat it. It can even absorb waste gas in the home and is an excellent plant for purifying the air.

The cultivation of snapdragon in my country is not as widespread as in Europe. Snapdragons are widely used internationally in potted plants, flower beds, window sills, planting troughs and interior landscape arrangements, and in recent years have also been used for ornamental cut flowers.

Therefore, progress in the improvement of antirrhinum varieties has been rapid, especially in Western Europe. The Dutch S&G Seed Company has made great achievements in antirrhinum breeding. To date, snapdragons have dwarf, semi-dwarf, and tall varieties, as well as ultra-dwarf varieties with a plant height of 10 cm, and many are tetraploid varieties. Recently, new varieties of double-petaled azalea and butterfly types have been bred.

In the production of snapdragons, the main products in European countries such as the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Belgium, etc. are potted plants and flower bed plants, and there is also cut flower production. In Japan, potted flowers are mainly produced, with a small amount of cut flowers. The cultivation of snapdragon in my country began in the 1930s, mainly used in potted flowers, flower beds and flower borders, and the quantity was small.

Although it developed rapidly after the founding of New China, it was mainly arranged in flower beds and flower borders in parks, with old varieties and single colors. After the 1980s, dwarf varieties of snapdragon were introduced and widely used in potted plants and flower bed arrangements.