"Kmdbysq ptd" Means Snapdragon: What Our Florists Tell Customers
"Kmdbysq ptd" is what you get when you type the Russian name of the snapdragon, "lvinyi zev" (literally "lion's mouth"), with the keyboard still switched to English. So the search is about the snapdragon, Antirrhinum majus: a tall spike of velvety, two-lipped flowers that opens from the bottom up and lasts about 7-10 days in a vase.
In our Saint Petersburg shops, open since 2011, customers usually ask four things about snapdragons: what the flower means, why the stems bend towards the light, how long a bouquet will last and whether it can be sent to someone in another city. This article answers those questions in the order customers ask them, and explains how to order a bouquet with snapdragons from abroad.
Why the snapdragon is called a lion's mouth
The Russian name and the English one describe the same trick. Each flower has two closed lips; if you gently squeeze the sides, the "mouth" opens and snaps shut again when you let go. Children in Russia play with snapdragons in summer gardens exactly this way, so for many adults the flower brings back dacha memories, which is one reason it is a popular gift for parents and grandparents.
Botanically the snapdragon is native to the Mediterranean. Cut varieties are bred for long, straight stems of 60-90 cm with 20 or more buds on a spike. The flowers open gradually from the base, so a stem that arrives with three or four open florets will keep opening new ones for days. Double-flowered varieties look softer and almost like small azaleas, while classic single forms keep the recognisable "mouth".
Colours range widely: white, cream, lemon yellow, apricot, salmon, many pinks, magenta, burgundy and bicolours. There is no true blue snapdragon. Pastel snapdragons are mostly chosen for weddings and tender bouquets, deep burgundy and magenta for autumn and evening compositions.
What snapdragons mean in a bouquet
The traditional meanings are graciousness and strength: the flower grows in poor, rocky soil and still produces tall, bright spikes. In the Victorian language of flowers the snapdragon could also mean a gentle refusal or a warning against deception, but very few people read a bouquet that way now. For a modern recipient, snapdragons simply look generous, summery and a little old-fashioned in the best sense.
Colour carries more weight than the old symbolism. White snapdragons suit weddings and congratulations on a new start. Yellow ones say friendship and good cheer. Pink and peach read as tenderness and gratitude, which is why they are often added to bouquets for mothers. Burgundy and deep red look rich and festive and work for anniversaries.
One rule from our shop counter applies to every gift sent within Russia: count the stems. For a living person the number of flowers in a small bouquet should be odd - 3, 5, 7 or 9. Even numbers are associated with funerals. In large mixed bouquets the count matters less, but when snapdragons are the main flower, keep it odd.
Bouquets we can deliver
How long snapdragons last and how to care for them
With proper care, a snapdragon bouquet stays fresh for 7-10 days, and the top buds often open during the second week. On arrival, cut 2-3 cm off each stem at an angle with a sharp knife and put the flowers straight into a clean vase with cool water. Remove all leaves that would stand below the waterline, because snapdragon foliage rots quickly and clouds the water.
Change the water every day or two and re-cut the stems at the same time. Pinch off the lowest florets as they fade: this keeps the spike tidy and sends water to the buds higher up. Snapdragons are sensitive to ethylene, so keep the vase away from fruit and from the kitchen, and away from radiators and direct sun.
Customers often notice that after a day the tips of the stems curve upwards. This is normal: snapdragons are geotropic, which means the spike always tries to grow upright against gravity. If the bouquet stood at an angle in the box or the vase tips it, the tops bend. Keep the vase upright and do not lay the flowers on their side for long, and the stems will stay straight.
When snapdragons are in season and what to pair them with
Garden snapdragons flower in summer and early autumn, but cut snapdragons for bouquets are available for most of the year. They are at their best from late spring to October, when the spikes are long and the colours are especially clear.
Snapdragons are a vertical flower, so florists use them to give a bouquet height and movement. They pair well with roses, peonies in season, lisianthus, alstroemeria, chrysanthemums and eucalyptus. In a round bouquet two or three snapdragon spikes are enough to change the silhouette; in a tall vase arrangement they can be the main flower on their own.
For a man, a colleague or a formal occasion we suggest white or yellow snapdragons with plenty of greenery. For a romantic gift, pink snapdragons with roses look soft and generous. For a teacher on 1 September or an autumn birthday, burgundy and apricot shades fit the season.
How to choose a snapdragon bouquet for delivery
When customers order snapdragons for someone else, we advise looking at the stage of opening rather than only at the colour. A bouquet where the lower third of each spike is open and the rest is in bud will look full on the day of delivery and keep developing for a week. Fully open spikes look spectacular in a photo but have less life left in them.
Think about where the flowers will stand. Snapdragons are tall, so a recipient with a small vase or a narrow windowsill will be happier with a compact round bouquet where the spikes are cut shorter. For a spacious flat or an office reception, a tall bouquet with long stems makes a stronger impression.
Ordering snapdragons in Saint Petersburg and across Russia
Choose a bouquet in our bouquets catalogue and enter the recipient's name, phone number and address. We deliver across Russia. City delivery costs 500 RUB; for remote districts and suburbs the operator confirms the price when confirming the order. Pay online by bank card, SBP or Yandex Pay; foreign bank cards are accepted too, with payment via Robokassa, which matters if you are ordering from abroad.
In large cities express delivery takes 1-2 hours after the order is confirmed. You can also choose an exact time with a margin of 30 minutes either way, a window of 09-12, 12-15, 15-18 or 18-21, or pre-order 1 to 30 days ahead for a birthday or anniversary. In Saint Petersburg, where our three shops are on Ilyushina Street, Obvodny Canal Embankment and Srednerogatskaya Street, delivery is around the clock. The full conditions are on the delivery and payment page.
Delivery is anonymous by default: the courier does not name the sender. If you want the recipient to know who sent the flowers, write it on the card - the card with your text is free. The courier calls about 15 minutes before arrival; if the recipient is out, we agree a second delivery the same day or, with your consent, leave the bouquet with a neighbour or concierge.
If you have questions about a particular bouquet, the colours available or the delivery time, call us on 8 (812) 507-67-05. Our florists answer the same questions about snapdragons every day and will help you choose.
Frequently asked questions
What does "kmdbysq ptd" mean?
It is the Russian name of the snapdragon, "lvinyi zev", typed with the keyboard in English layout. The flower is Antirrhinum majus, known for its two-lipped blooms that "snap" open when squeezed.
How long do snapdragons last in a vase?
Usually 7-10 days. Re-cut the stems, keep leaves out of the water, change the water every day or two and remove faded lower florets.
Why do snapdragon stems bend upwards?
Snapdragons always grow towards the vertical, so if they lie at an angle the tips curve up. Keep the vase upright and the stems will stay straight.
What do snapdragons symbolise?
Traditionally graciousness and strength. In practice the colour sets the mood: white for new beginnings, yellow for friendship, pink for tenderness, burgundy for celebration.
Can I send snapdragons to Saint Petersburg from abroad?
Yes. Order on the site and pay with a Russian or foreign bank card. In Saint Petersburg delivery works around the clock, and you can also book an exact time or pre-order up to 30 days ahead.
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