Snapdragon 'Apollo Purple'
Trial: Annual
Years Trialed: 1998
Good Qualities:
Great color - magenta (10); Long, straight stems (5); Bloomed very early (earlier than 'Rocket' snaps) (4); Seed germination very good (4); Easy to grow (2); Many cuts per plant; No lag time between first cuts & next round of flowers (2); Unusual snapdragon form (2); Long blooming time; Pretty flowers; Good for market; 74% germination; Excellent stem strength with no support; Kept producing flowers until frost
Problems:
Florets are too far apart on stems (4); Very thin stems - weak (2); Flowers unevenly spaced (2); Somewhat spindly stems - not quite as durable as other varieties (2); Not as full a flower as 'Rocket' (2); Flowers are too simple; Flowers fall off the stem too easily; They don't look like snaps; Don't really fill in a bouquet well; Don't like the form of the flower as much as other varieties; Stems not as thick as 'Animation'; Short cutting season.
Trial Data
| Yield (stems/plant) | Stem Length (inches) | Market Appreciation Rating (1) | Repeat Again Rating (1) | Ease of Cultivation Rating (1) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average | 6.5 | 18.0 | 4.0 | 3.9 | 4.5 |
(1) 1 to 5 scale, with 5 being the best. Market ratings are based on sales to wholesalers, retailers, or final consumers direct.
Supplier
PanAmerican Seed
P.O. Box 438
West Chicago, IL 60186
Comments:
The florists I sell to either really liked this open snap or they didn't like it at all. This was the only thing that made it questionable to grow again; A different type of snap floret, more open but usable; Liked the look - Adifferent@ from other snaps; Cold wind damage occurred during hardening off process before planting in field (purple leaves). - No damage to 'Rocket' snapdragons; This snap was short and spindly, but at least it fought its way thru the rain; Much stronger than Ivory. - We missed the 'snap' in the dragon; I used them a lot in bouquets, but my customers passed them by when they made theirs.