Bringing Endless Hues to Your Garden: Grow Angelonia for Non-Stop Blooms

Angelonia, also known as summer snapdragon, is a relatively new addition to greenhouse shelves. This plant is an excellent choice for adding continuous color to any garden. Despite its recent arrival in the gardening scene, there are already several exciting variations available. Angelonia is a robust perennial that can withstand the scorching heat and humidity of summer, making it a hardy and vibrant addition to any sunny area.

If you’re looking to add a touch of South America to your garden, angelonia is the way to go. This lovely plant thrives in sunny and moist soil, making it ideal for USDA zones 9-11. For those living elsewhere, don’t worry – it can still be grown as an annual. To ensure the best growth, it’s recommended to plant angelonia in rich soil filled with compost in a full sun location. With its erect spires, this plant can easily be incorporated into the center of a flowerbed or border. Alternatively, it can serve as a “thriller” in a container garden alongside other plants that share its need for sunlight and moisture. So if you’re ready to add a bit of South American charm to your outdoor space, give angelonia a try.

Angelonia Planting Guide: When and How to Plant Plant your angelonia bedding plants around two to three weeks after the last frost in spring. Make sure to space them out 12 to 18 inches apart in soil that is rich and well-draining, while keeping the soil moist. Once the plants grow up to six inches tall, trim the tips of their stems to encourage branching. Once established, these plants will require less water, only about an inch per week. To maintain moisture, add a layer of mulch around the plants. In case you are unable to find angelonia bedding plants, you may want to plant some from seeds. For zones 9-11, press the seeds gently into the soil in early spring after the last frost. However, if you live in cooler areas, start the seeds indoors six weeks before the last frost. Press the seeds into the amended garden soil or potting mix without covering them, as the light will aid germination. Ensure that they receive bright light and maintain temperatures between 70°F and 75°F if growing them indoors. Happy planting! David Speer

Tips for Caring for Angelonia Plants When it comes to planting angelonia, it’s important to select a location that receives plenty of sunlight and has good airflow. This plant is susceptible to disease and won’t produce many flowers if it doesn’t get at least eight hours of sun daily. For the best results, make sure the soil is well-draining and moist. Once established, the plant can tolerate brief periods of drought. High temperatures and humidity won’t harm angelonia as it is fairly drought-tolerant. When fertilizing your angelonia, be sure to follow the instructions on the flower fertilizer package and avoid over-fertilizing. This may cause the plant to produce more foliage than flowers and become leggy. One of the great things about this plant is that it doesn’t require deadheading to maintain blooms through the summer. However, if your angelonia becomes leggy, you can rejuvenate it by cutting it back by half in midsummer. Angelonia is generally not prone to pests, but you may encounter aphids early in the growing season. You can address this issue by using insecticidal soap according to the product instructions and spraying the plant with water. If you’re looking to propagate your angelonia, you can do so by taking cuttings from the tips of the plant. Simply remove the bottom leaves and place the cutting in moist soil. With proper care, your new plant should flourish.

The best way to propagate nonpatented angelonia plants is through stem cuttings, while seeds are available for certain popular cultivars. However, it should be noted that seeds from garden hybrids will not produce plants identical to the parent plant. To take a stem cutting, cut a 3-inch section from the tip of the stem with a sharp knife and remove leaves from the bottom half. Dip the end in rooting powder and plant it in a well-draining potting mix in a pot placed in a bright area but not in full sun. Seeds can be sown six to eight weeks before the last spring frost, 1/8 inch deep in a seed-starting mix, and kept moist at a temperature of 70°F-75°F until germination. Seedlings should then be moved to a sunny window sill or under a fluorescent plant light turned on for 16 hours a day. Seeds can also be sown directly in the garden after the last frost, covered with 1/8-inch of amended soil, and thinned to 12-18 inches apart once they come up in two weeks. Angelonia comes in various selections, such as those with the largest bloom size, dwarf plants suitable for container culture, and seed-grown varieties that offer quality plants at low prices and a variety of color options. Serena Purple angelonia is a highly acclaimed selection, thanks to its extensive blooming season and hardiness. Other selections include Angelmist Dark Plum, Angelmist Lavender, Angelmist Purple Stripe, Serenita Raspberry, Serena White, and Archangel Purple.

Meet Angelonia angustifolia, an upright plant adorned with significantly large flowers. To complement this charming plant, companion plants like Dusty Miller, Geranium, Nasturtiums, and Sage can be added to your garden. Dusty Miller has a versatile look that blends well with other types of garden blossoms and creates a beautiful contrast with green foliage. Withstanding heat and drought, it is easy to grow and maintain. Geranium, a classic favorite for gardeners for over a century, comes in various types that do well in hot and dry weather or cooler conditions. Though most geraniums are annuals, they can be perennials in warmer zones. Nasturtiums are robust plants that grow easily from seeds and thrive in poor soil conditions. They provide a splash of color to the garden and are available in spreading and climbing types. Sage, a fast-growing perennial herb, is perfect for adding flavor to dishes and keeping deer away. It also has various uses in cosmetics, perfumes, and soaps. Angelonia attracts pollinators like hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees while being deer and rabbit-resistant. Use them in garden beds, mass plantings, or as container plants to add a strikingly beautiful touch to your garden.