What is the difference between lupine and snapdragon? A quick guide to telling them apart

Lupine and snapdragon share many similarities, such as rich colors and spicate inflorescences. So, do you know what the difference between lupine and snapdragon is?

1. Differences between lupine and snapdragon

Leaves differ: snapdragon leaves are oblong-lanceolate and spread outward only slightly; lupine leaves are palmately compound, spreading outward like a hand;

Flowers differ: snapdragon inflorescences are shorter, like little goldfish, and arranged in a jumbled way; lupine inflorescences are longer, and the flowers are arranged very neatly;

Fruit differs: snapdragon fruit is an ovoid capsule; lupine fruit is an oblong-linear pod.

2. Propagation methods of snapdragon

Mainly propagated by sowing. Sowing can be done in spring or autumn. In the Yangtze River basin, autumn sowing is mostly used; in northern regions, autumn sowing is also mostly used for pot sowing. Autumn-sown seedlings grow more robustly and bloom more profusely than spring-sown seedlings. After autumn sowing, seedlings emerge in 7-10 days. Soaking the seeds in a 50-400 mg/L gibberellin solution can increase the seed germination rate. Spring sowing should be carried out in March-April, and cuttings can also be used for propagation.

3. Propagation methods of lupine

Sowing propagation is carried out in autumn, and germination is uniform at high temperatures of 21-30°C. In lupine production, sowing propagation is mostly used, and both spring and autumn sowing are possible. Spring sowing is done in March, but after spring sowing the growing period coincides with summer, and the high heat can cause some varieties not to flower or a low proportion of flowering plants, short flower spikes, and poor ornamental effect. Under natural conditions, autumn sowing flowers earlier and grows better than spring sowing; sow from mid-September to mid-October, and the flowering period is April-June of the following year. Sow by dotting in 72-cell or 128-cell plug trays, then cover. The seedling-raising soil should be loose, uniform, air-permeable and water-retentive; special seedling-raising soil or a mix of peat soil and perlite is best. The seeds are relatively large, plain or coated, about 40 seeds/gram. The suitable germination temperature is about 25°C; keep the medium moist, and the seeds will emerge and germinate in 7-10 days, with a high germination rate.

For cutting propagation, in spring cut shoots sprouting from the rhizome into 8-10 cm pieces, preferably with a little rhizome attached, and insert them in a cold frame. In hot, rainy summer areas, lupine often cannot survive the summer and dies, so it can be grown as a biennial. It is best planted in the growing site in early spring at a spacing of 40 cm; early planting leads to early establishment and earlier flowering and seed setting. After setting seed before summer arrives, the aboveground part withers, and new plants sprout again in autumn, or seeds can be harvested before withering. In North China, protection is needed to overwinter.

Lupine and snapdragon are both very beautiful flowers, and everyone can choose to grow them according to their own preferences.