Angelonia

( an - jel - OH - nee - uh )

At-A-Glance Information

This genus of flowering perennials includes species often used as annuals in temperate climates. Plants in this genus need full sun and regular water to perform well in the landscape and are native to Mexico and the West Indies. They are commonly called Summer Snapdragons, though their flowers more closely resemble those of a miniature Delphinium, and they have a bloom time that lasts longer into the summer than Snapdragons do. Small blue, purple, pink or white blossoms appear on 8-inch tall spikes in summer and are rich in nectar, making them a favorite of many hungry pollinators. Individual plants grow to reach 1.5 feet tall and 1 foot wide at maturity. These beauties are great for beds, borders and containers, and are at home in any style of landscaping.

Angelonia Species and Varietals

The genus Angelonia includes 30 species and is a member of the plant family Plataginaceae. Angelonia ​grows best in USDA hardiness zones 9-11 or Sunset growing zones 1-24, H1 and H2. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Angelonia angustifolia (Garden Angelonia, Blue Wings, Narrowleaf Angelon, Summer Snapdragon, Summer Snap, Angel Flower)
This species is native to Mexico and the West Indies, and is an introduced species in America, India, and Southeast Asia. These herbaceous plants carry brightly colored blooms on well-branched plants, some varieties in this group have flowers marked with more than one color. Blooms can be pink, blue, white, or purple. Cultivar 'Wedgewood Blue' is a choice garden ornamental. 'Serena' series varieties have a variety of colors, as does the 5-inch shorter 'Serenita' group.

Angelonia grandiflora (Angelonia biflora) (Summer Snapdragon, Angel Flower)
This ornamental species is a gorgeous addition to any garden space, and includes many cultivars with differing bloom colors. The species forms a subshrub with green foliage and is native to Colombia, Guyana, and northeastern and west-central Brazil. Individual plants reach up to between 12 and 36 inches tall when mature and in bloom.

Caring for Angelonia

Angelonia is a popular garden ornamental and nursery-grown plants can be found for sale in many regions in spring and summertime. They can also be purchased as seed. If growing Angelonia from seed, sow indoors about 6-8 weeks prior to the last frost date of the region. Space plants between 9 and 18 inches apart for best coverage and airflow. Choose a planting site that receives full sun; ideally, they like to get between 6 and 8 hours of sun each day for the best shows of blooms. Ensure that soil is well-draining, rich in nutrients, and has a pH of between 5.5 and 6.2 (slightly acidic). If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic compost before installing. Apply a layer of mulch around the planting area to suppress weed growth, maintain consistent soil temperatures, and to increase soil moisture retention. Water new plantings regularly as they establish themselves in the garden. At maturity, Angelonia plants are technically considered to be drought-tolerant, but will perform much better when soil is kept consistently moist but not soggy. As a general rule of thumb, water whenever the top few inches of soil feels dry to the touch.

Fertilize yearly in early springtime with an application of 2 inches of compost around the base of plants. Pull mulch back before applying, work the compost gently into the soil a bit, water it in, and then replace mulch. Remove spent flower spikes after they have faded (unless you wish to collect seeds for propagation). This will encourage rebloom and maintain a neat appearance. Pruning these flowers also includes trimming back leggy or overgrown stems to encourage a bushier growth. If growing from seed, pinch plants when they are young to form a strong branching structure (some varieties of Angelonia are bred to have a more compact habit to begin with, and in those cases this step is not necessary). These plants can be pruned back by a third towards the end of summertime to rejuvenate them for a fresh flush of growth. Angelonia is very tolerant of high temperatures and humidity, but is sensitive to cold temperatures. These flowers are considered annuals in cold-weather climates and will have to be replaced year after year, or brought inside during the first frost and overwintered as a houseplant in a cool, bright location. In protected areas, however, even in cooler temperate zones, these flowers can come back year after year.

Harvesting Angelonia
Angelonia flowers make excellent additions to fresh flower arrangements, retaining their color and shape well. They also have a faint, grape soda-type scent to them. Angelonia flowers typically take between 90 and 100 days from sowing to reach full maturity. Flowers are ready to be harvested in summertime; choose flowering spikes that have about 2-3 flowers open on a stalk for the longest vase life; flower inflorescences bloom from the bottom upwards. Using sharp, clean shears or snips, remove flowering stems at their base and remove any leaves that will sit below the water line. Drop the stems immediately into a bucket of cool water. Angelonia cut flowers have a vase life of about 14-18 days.

Propagation

Angelonia can be propagated either by using cuttings or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the cutting method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant, especially if you are growing a hybrid variety. Some commercially sold cultivars do not produce seeds. To propagate your Summer Snapdragons, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Angelonia by Cutting
  1. Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. A sufficient potting medium for cuttings is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
  2. In spring or early summertime, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 6 inch portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
  3. Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in warm, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to six weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth, you'll know you have roots. 
  4. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new flowers.

Propagating Angelonia by Seed
  1. Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. The best potting medium for seed germination is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss. You will also, after a few weeks, need individual 3-inch pots for each seedling that grows. 
  2. Harvest your seeds. Angelonia seeds are very small, and can be harvested from the seed pods left behind when flowers have faded in late summertime. Once the seed pods have dried out and begun to split open, you can harvest the seeds inside. Cut the flowering spikes off of the plant and place them in a paper bag. Harvest as many as you can, and put the paper bag in a dry, cool, dark area. The seed pods will continue to split open and release the seeds contained inside (the bag can be shaken or crushed to help the process along). Once they have been released, take them out of the bag and put them in a container so you can work with them. Having a tray or bowl can be handy, as Angelonia seeds are very small and easy to lose. Angelonia seeds can be stored in a dark, dry, cool place for a few years and still maintain viability, but it is best to use fresh seeds.
  3. About 6-8 weeks before the last frost date of your area, water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray on the soil surface, and cover them with a dusting of more soil. Water with your spray bottle, being careful to not dislodge the tiny seeds. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 7-30 days from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
  4. Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.
  5. Alternatively, Angelonia seeds can be direct-sown in the garden once soil temperatures reach above 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Broadcast seeds over a bed, and cover lightly with a dressing of soil or compost. Keep the area consistently moist as seedlings develop, and after they have emerged, thin them so that they are spaced about 9-18 inches apart for best coverage and airflow.

Problems and Pests

Angelonia flowers are susceptible to developing issues with the following pests and diseases in the landscape:
  • Aphids
  • Spider Mites
  • Powdery Mildew
  • Root Rot
  • Thrips
  • Whiteflies
For information on these pests and diseases, including how to treat and prevent them, see the following links:
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Gallery

Angelonia looks great in informal and cottage gardens.
Mass variously colored Summer Snapdragons together for an informal look.
These mid-height flowers can add depth and color to mixed beds.
Here, Angelonias are planted alongside Ornamental Sweet Potato, Speedwell, Rudbeckia, and various grasses.
Pentas and Summer Snapdragon make a handsome pairing in this mixed bed.
This understated planter features white Angelonia, butter yellow Lantana, and Emerald Lace Ipomoea.
Angelonia 'Angelflare' has deep violet-red blooms that almost appear black.
Deep purple Summer Snapdragons are planted alongside red and white Calibrachoa in this patriotic planter.
Purple Angelonia flowers make the bright colors of the Lantana in front of them really pop.

Videos

How to plant Agelonia.
Learn all about Angelonia in this plant chat.
Summer Snapdragons explained.
All you need to know about these beautiful flowering plants.

Resources

How to Plant and Grow Angelonia
How to Grow and Care for Angelonia
How to Grow and Care for Angelonia Plants
Angelonia: How to Grow and Care with Success
Wikipedia: Angelonia
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Page 153, Angelonia angustifolia