Asarina vines are not related to traditional snapdragons, but the flowers have a similar appearance, and the common names of snapdragon vine, trailing snapdragon, and creeping snapdragon indicate just how much of a similarity there is! It is a native of Mexico and Central America, and humming birds love the trumpet shaped flowers. The vine looks delicate and fragile, but it has no trouble climbing a trellis and filling it with dark green leaves and loads of blossoms.

Start Snapdragon vine seeds indoors 6 - 8 weeks prior to the end of frost season. The roots do not like to be disturbed, so use peat pots or paper pots. The pots will also allow for separating the vines so that they do not get entwined with each other.

Snapdragon vine prefers full sun to partial shade - partial shade in the afternoon would be ideal. The soil should be rich, moist and well-draining. It needs a trellis, arbor, or fence to climb. Or, use it in hanging baskets or as a ground cover freely spreading over the ground.

• Fill pots with moistened seed starting soil
• Press the Asarina seeds into the soil and just barely cover
• Place the pots in a warm and sunny location
• Keep the soil continually moist but not soggy
• Once seedlings emerge, it's good to have a bamboo stick or something that the vine can start climbing until it's moved into the garden
• Once temperatures are warming outside, harden off the vine for 7 - 10 days prior to transplanting out

• Snapdragon vines are fairly drought tolerant, but it will grow best if it receives consistent irrigation
• Mulch around the base of the vine to suppress weeds and to help hold in moisture
• Provide a balanced fertilizer 1 or 2 times during the growing season to ensure that blooms will last up until fall frosts
• The vine if virtually free from pests and disease
• Pruning is typically not needed unless it is getting too large - the vine responds well to being cut back when needed