Common Name: angelonia
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Plantaginaceae
Zone: 9 to 11
Height: 0.75 to 1.50 feet
Spread: 0.75 to 1.50 feet
Bloom Time: Flowers freely
Bloom Description: Lavender, white, pink, purple
Sun: Full sun
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Low
Suggested Use: Annual
Flower: Showy
Culture
Winter hardy to USDA Zones 9-11. In St. Louis, it is grown as a bedding or container annual. Prefers moist, fertile soils with good drainage. Some drought tolerance. Good tolerance for summer heat and humidity. Plants grown in containers may be difficult to overwinter indoors. Consider purchasing new plants from local nurseries each spring.
Plants in the Serena series are seed-grown and may be started indoors about 10-12 weeks before last spring frost date. Plants may also be purchased in spring from local nurseries. Deadheading is not required.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Angelonia angustifolia, commonly called angelonia or summer snapdragon, is native to Mexico and the West Indies. It is an upright, glabrous, somewhat bushy, tropical perennial that is noted for its long summer bloom of small snapdragon-like flowers. Plants typically grow 12-18” tall. Stems are clad with narrow, oblong to lanceolate, green leaves (to 3” long) with toothed margins. Foliage is slightly aromatic. Bluish-purple flowers (each to 3/4” across) bloom from late spring to early fall in narrow terminal spikes (to 8” long). The two-lipped flowers are somewhat reminiscent of snapdragon. Cultivars are available in white, blue, light pink and bicolor flower colors.
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.
Serena Series cultivars are new introductions that are particularly noteworthy because they may be grown from seed. ‘Serena Lavender’, ‘Serena Lavender Pink’, ‘Serena White’ and ‘Serena Purple’ feature flowers of the color described by the cultivar name. SERENA MIXTURE is, as the name suggests, a seed mixture of the four different Serena cultivars. Serena Series plants are slightly more compact than species plants, typically growing to 10-14” tall. Serena flowers have an impressive spring to early fall bloom period.
Problems
No serious insect or disease problems. Watch for aphids and powdery mildew.
Uses
In St. Louis, grow as annuals massed in beds and borders. Also appropriate for containers.