Yes — Strong Match
snapdragon is grown as an annual, so season length decides it here, not a winter zone — and Mississippi's typical season runs ~273 frost-free days against the ~80 snapdragon needs.
Sow by about Sep 6
Snapdragon is grown as an annual, so what decides it here is season length, not a winter zone. It needs about 80 days from sowing to finish and a typical Mississippi season runs ~273 frost-free days, leaving 193 days of slack. That is room to sow as late as about Sep 6 and still finish before the usual first freeze (Nov 25), or to run a second succession.
Want more weeks at either end of that window? How to buy the weeks →
80 days to maturity against Mississippi’s ~273-day season. NOAA Regional Climate Centers ACIS 1991-2020 (28°F killing freeze), state median across counties, via stateClimateData.ts.
Your yard isn't the whole zone.
Snapdragon is grown as an annual, so your winter zone isn't the deciding factor — your frost-free window is. A typical Mississippi site runs ~273 frost-free days, but that is a state median, not your yard: slope, trees, and low spots move the last-frost date across a single parcel. Enter your address and we'll score snapdragon against your land's actual frost dates, sun, and soil.
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Zone Comparison
Snapdragon Needs
- USDA Zones: Data pending
- Sun: Full Sun
- Mature size: 2.5 ft tall
- Picking window: ~90 days of harvest
- Drought tolerance: Low
Mississippi Has
- USDA Zones: 7b-9b
- Last Hard Freeze (28°F): Feb 17 - Mar 3
- First Hard Freeze (28°F): Nov 21 - Nov 30
- Annual Rainfall: 50-65 inches
- Common Soils: Loess, Alluvial clay, Sandy loam
Preferred Soil pH
Plant data: USDA PLANTS Database / Growable Ground plant catalog. State data: USDA ARS PHZM 2023, NOAA Climate Normals, NRCS SSURGO.
When to Plant Snapdragon in Mississippi
The frost window
Across Mississippi, the last spring hard freeze (28°F) clears between Feb 17 and Mar 3, and the first fall hard freeze lands between Nov 21 and Nov 30 (NOAA Regional Climate Centers ACIS, 1991-2020). Counting from the latest last freeze to the earliest first freeze, that's a 263-day window you can count on — up to 286 days on a mild site in a kind year. That marks the hard freeze, not the last light frost, so tender transplants usually wait another 2-3 weeks.
When to start the seed
Those dates are when snapdragon goes out, not when it starts. It is sown under cover about 8 weeks ahead, so counting back from Mississippi's late-side last freeze of Mar 3 is what fixes your sowing date — and a yard that clears frost earlier than the state's late date starts earlier still.
Days to maturity vs. the window
At 80 days to maturity (USDA PLANTS Database), counting from the last hard freeze it ripens with 183 days to spare even in Mississippi's tightest freeze scenario — room for a later start or a second sowing.
Timing tuned to sub-state frost dates — Tishomingo County, not the statewide average.
Frost window: NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020. Plant timing fields: USDA PLANTS Database. Your site's own frost dates can run earlier or later than the state range — a parcel report pins them down.
Growing Season Fit
Days to maturity
Snapdragon matures in ~80 days (Growable Ground Plant Database). A typical Mississippi site has ~273 frost-free days, so plenty of room for a second succession.
Growing degree days
Snapdragon needs ~1100 GDD (base 50°F) to ripen. The state median runs ~5404 GDD (from PRISM 1991-2020 climate normals), so Mississippi's typical season clears that easily.
GDD and chill-hour figures are computed from PRISM 1991-2020 monthly climate normals; frost-free days from NOAA Regional Climate Centers ACIS, 1991-2020. Each is the state median across its counties (P25/P75 span the within-state spread). Hardiness-zone range is USDA PHZM 2023.
Soil + Drainage Fit
Snapdragon likes near-neutral soil (pH 6.2-7). That's the common-ground band across Mississippi's loess and alluvial clay — a soil test confirms it for your site. Drainage matters: this plant wants well (dry spells). If your Mississippi site is heavier clay or sits in a low spot, raised beds or amendment with compost solve it.
Your land, not the state average
Mississippi soil pH runs about 5.0–5.3, and that sits below snapdragon's tolerated 6.2–7, so the typical Mississippi parcel needs lime before it will perform. SSURGO maps it swinging by full points parcel to parcel, so your map unit, not the state number, decides whether snapdragon needs lime or sulfur.
Check your parcel → Source: USDA NRCS SSURGO.
Plant pH and drainage requirements from USDA PLANTS Database. Mississippi soil profile from USDA NRCS SSURGO. Site-specific verification: a 30-minute soil test from your local Extension lab.
Snapdragon in Mississippi — Quick Answer
- Verdict: Yes — Strong Match
- Plant Zones: Data pending (USDA PLANTS Database)
- State Zones: 7b-9b (USDA ARS PHZM 2023)
- Growing Season: 28°F hard freezes about Feb 17 - Mar 3 to Nov 21 - Nov 30 (NOAA Regional Climate Centers ACIS, 1991-2020)
- Days to Maturity: 80 days
What Else to Consider for Snapdragon in Mississippi
Zone compatibility tells you about winter cold survival — but Mississippi growers also need to think about:
Extreme summer heat and humidity
Heavy alluvial clay in the Delta region
Frequent severe storms and flooding
Growing snapdragon here specifically
Snapdragon wants soil pH 6.2–7.0, but Mississippi's soils run acidic (SSURGO maps a dominant pH near 5.2) — below its range, nutrients lock up and growth stalls.
Test your soil and lime to raise pH into snapdragon's 6.2–7.0 range before planting. How to handle it →
What to actually do about these — and the constraints that apply to every Mississippi grower, not just snapdragon — is covered on the Mississippi growing guide.
Timing shifts within Mississippi
Mississippi isn't one climate. In Tishomingo County, the last hard freeze (28°F) holds until about Mar 23 — roughly 26 days later than the recorded state median — so plant snapdragon to your county's window, not the statewide date.
Snapdragon needs about 80 days of frost-free season from planting to harvest. Even Tishomingo County — Mississippi’s shortest season at 232 frost-free days — clears that by 152 days, so season length isn’t the constraint anywhere in Mississippi. What varies is your own parcel.
Across Mississippi’s 82 counties the frost-free season runs from 232 days in Tishomingo County to 309 days in Harrison County — a spread of 77 days, which is why a single statewide planting date misleads. The median Mississippi county sees 273 frost-free days, leaving snapdragon about 193 days of slack on a typical parcel — room for a second sowing where the season runs long.
County last-freeze dates and frost-free day counts: NOAA Regional Climate Centers ACIS (1991-2020), county 28°F freeze (earlier than the folk 32°F "last frost"). Snapdragon's 80-day requirement: USDA PLANTS / Growable Ground plant database (days to maturity). A parcel report resolves your address's own frost dates.
Pollinator + Wildlife Value
Snapdragon draws native bees and hummingbirds (moderate value, Growable Ground Plant Database). Planting it near vegetable beds can lift fruit set on neighboring crops. Outdoors, snapdragon can only work that bloom inside Mississippi's frost window — roughly 273 days, opening after the last 28°F freeze (Feb 17 - Mar 3) and closing at the first (Nov 21 - Nov 30), per NOAA Regional Climate Centers ACIS, 1991-2020.
Recommended Snapdragon Varieties for Mississippi
Mississippi publishes no state variety trial for snapdragon, so we won't invent a "best for Mississippi" list. Choose types rated to your USDA hardiness zone (7b-9b), and confirm winter survival and drainage against your own parcel.
Mississippi Cooperative Extension
For Mississippi-specific cultivar recommendations, planting calendars, and pest pressure for snapdragon, the canonical source is Mississippi State University Extension Service. Their fact sheets carry the local trial data we can't generalize across 50 states.
Is Snapdragon native to Mississippi?
No — the USDA PLANTS Database lists Snapdragon as introduced rather than native in the Lower 48, so it is not part of Mississippi's native flora. It grows here as a garden plant; pairing it with a few Mississippi natives keeps local pollinators fed too.
Looking for plants that belong here? The Mississippi growing guide lists USDA-documented natives for the state.
Native-range data: USDA PLANTS Database state-distribution records, accessed 2026-07-01.
Common Questions About Growing Snapdragon in Mississippi
When can I plant Snapdragon in Mississippi?
Mississippi's last spring hard freeze (28°F) clears between Feb 17 and Mar 3, and the first fall hard freeze lands between Nov 21 and Nov 30 (NOAA Regional Climate Centers ACIS, 1991-2020). Time outdoor planting to after the last hard freeze for your specific site — a further two to three weeks for anything tender — and count back from those dates for transplant scheduling.
Can Snapdragon mature before first frost in Mississippi?
Yes — Snapdragon matures in 80 days (USDA PLANTS Database), and Mississippi's dependable hard-freeze-free window runs 263 days (NOAA Regional Climate Centers ACIS, 1991-2020), leaving 183 days of margin. Plant once the last hard freeze has passed — two to three weeks later for anything tender — and it ripens ahead of the first fall freeze.
What hardiness zone is Snapdragon grown in across Mississippi?
Mississippi spans USDA hardiness zones 7b-9b (USDA ARS PHZM 2023). Snapdragon carries a range of zones Data pending, so the overlap zones are where outdoor growing is most reliable.
How many frost-free days does a typical Mississippi site have?
A typical Mississippi site sees ~273 frost-free days per year (derived from NOAA Regional Climate Centers ACIS, 1991-2020). Snapdragon should be matched against that window, so check whether your local microclimate runs above or below the state average before settling on a planting date. In cooler counties like Tishomingo, the freeze-free season runs shorter than the state average, so verify your own county's window.
Is Snapdragon native to Mississippi?
No — the USDA PLANTS Database lists Snapdragon as introduced rather than native in the Lower 48, so it is not part of Mississippi's native flora. It grows here as a garden plant; pairing it with a few Mississippi natives keeps local pollinators fed too.
How should I amend the soil for Snapdragon in Mississippi?
Snapdragon prefers pH 6.2-7 and well (dry spells) drainage (Growable Ground Plant Database). That sits in the common-ground band across Mississippi soils — a 30-minute soil test from a local Extension lab confirms it for your specific site.
Will Snapdragon actually grow on my specific land in Mississippi?
State-level zone + climate data is a sketch. A Growable Ground parcel report scores snapdragon against your address's exact soil pH, drainage, sun, and frost-date data drawn from USDA SSURGO, NOAA, and PRISM — not state averages.
Check your specific parcel in Mississippi
State-level data is a sketch. Your Growable Ground report scores snapdragon against your parcel's exact soil, sun, drainage, and frost data — not zone averages.
Three things about your lot that Mississippi snapdragon averages can't show:
We read public map data around Mississippi — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
25+ data sources read at your address, not the Mississippi snapdragon average
Explore More
Growing guides for snapdragon
Analysis by the Growable Ground research team, grounded in USDA PLANTS, USDA NRCS SSURGO, NOAA Climate Normals (1991-2020), and named Cooperative Extension sources. How we know →
Cite this dataset
Kirchick, M. (2026). Growable Ground Plant Database [Data set]. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21435643
Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. DOI 10.5281/zenodo.21435643
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