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Summer Snapdragon Angelonia angustifolia

Other Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
an-jel-OH-nee-uh an-gus-tih-FOH-lee-ah
Description

Angelonia is a vigorous, herbaceous flowering perennial shrub in the Plantaginaceae family and native to Mexico and the West Indies. It is an upright, glabrous, somewhat bushy, tropical that sprawls, but does not need staking. Angelonia is noted for its long summer bloom of small, two-lipped, snapdragon-like flowers and it does not need deadheading. This plant was formerly in the Scrophulariaceae family. The genus name comes from the Latinized version of the South American vernacular name of one of the species of these perennial herbs and sub-shrubs.

Angelonia prefers moist, fertile soils with good drainage in full sun. The plant has some drought tolerance and good tolerance for summer heat and humidity. Space plants 9 to 12 inches apart in the ground. Plants typically grow 12 to 18 inches tall.

Plants grown in containers may be difficult to overwinter indoors and many backyard gardeners will treat the plant as an annual and obtain new plants each spring. Cultivars are available in white, blue, and light pink..

Insects Diseases and Other Plant Problems: 

Angelonia is susceptible to aphids and powdery mildew. Some cultivars have shown excellent resistance to phytophthora root rot or stem rot while other cultivars had poor resistance. See Phytophthora Root and Crown Rot in the Landscape.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Alba'
  • 'AngelMist'
  • 'Angel Mist Spreading Dark Purple'
  • 'Archangel Blue'
    Excellent resistance to phytophthora.
  • 'Archangel Pink'
    Excellent resistance to phytophthora.
  • 'Night Sky'
    Poor resistance to phytophthora root rot or stem rot.
  • 'Serena Purple'
  • 'Serena White'
    Excellent resistance to phytophthora fungus root rot.
  • 'Serenita Lavender Pink'
  • 'Serenita Purple'
'Alba', 'AngelMist', 'Angel Mist Spreading Dark Purple', 'Archangel Blue', 'Archangel Pink', 'Night Sky', 'Serena Purple', 'Serena White', 'Serenita Lavender Pink', 'Serenita Purple'
Tags:
#purple#fragrant#full sun tolerant#heat tolerant#drought tolerant#white flowers#purple flowers#pink flowers#fragrant leaves#blue flowers#mass planting#bicolor#herbaceous perennial#variegated#border planting#cutting garden#fantz#tropical feel#container plant#annual
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Alba'
  • 'AngelMist'
  • 'Angel Mist Spreading Dark Purple'
  • 'Archangel Blue'
    Excellent resistance to phytophthora.
  • 'Archangel Pink'
    Excellent resistance to phytophthora.
  • 'Night Sky'
    Poor resistance to phytophthora root rot or stem rot.
  • 'Serena Purple'
  • 'Serena White'
    Excellent resistance to phytophthora fungus root rot.
  • 'Serenita Lavender Pink'
  • 'Serenita Purple'
'Alba', 'AngelMist', 'Angel Mist Spreading Dark Purple', 'Archangel Blue', 'Archangel Pink', 'Night Sky', 'Serena Purple', 'Serena White', 'Serenita Lavender Pink', 'Serenita Purple'
Tags:
#purple#fragrant#full sun tolerant#heat tolerant#drought tolerant#white flowers#purple flowers#pink flowers#fragrant leaves#blue flowers#mass planting#bicolor#herbaceous perennial#variegated#border planting#cutting garden#fantz#tropical feel#container plant#annual
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Angelonia
    Species:
    angustifolia
    Family:
    Plantaginaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Annual
    Perennial
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Mexico, West Indies, South America
    Distribution:
    Peru
    Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
    Heat and drought tolerant. Resistant to phytophthora fungus.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
    Width: 0 ft. 8 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Annual
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Shrub
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Erect
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Occasionally Dry
    Available Space To Plant:
    Less than 12 inches
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Blue
    Pink
    Purple/Lavender
    Variegated
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Spike
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Fragrant
    Good Cut
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Fall
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Lipped
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    fused petals
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    This plant has 3/4 inch blooms with 5 petals on 8 inch long spikes from June into September. The flower is deep mauve, pink, blue, white, purple or bi-colors. The two-lipped flowers are reminiscent of a snapdragon, hence the common name.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Fragrant
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Opposite
    Leaf Shape:
    Lanceolate
    Oblong
    Leaf Margin:
    Dentate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Width:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Description:
    Stems are clad with narrow, oblong to lanceolate, green leaves (to 3 inches long) with toothed margins. Foliage is slightly aromatic.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Container
    Patio
    Landscape Theme:
    Drought Tolerant Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Mass Planting
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Drought
    Dry Soil
    Heat