Angelonia angustifolia, Summer Snapdragon
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Angelonia angustifolia, also called Angelonia, or Summer Snapdragon. Angelonia is an upright herbaceous perennial with glabrous leaves in and opposite formations. The green, oblong to lanceolate leaves with toothed margins are generally no longer than three inches. It grows to a height of one foot to one and a half feet and width of around nine inches to one foot. This leaf arrangement allows for a beautiful and full bed when bunched together with around eight to 10 inches of spacing. Blooms grow in a narrow spike formation all summer long with beautiful fused flowers reminiscent of snapdragons which gives it the common name, “Summer Snapdragon.” (Elpel) There are no hinged petals on Angelonia angustifolia which sets it apart from the snapdragons which fall in a different genus of the same family. Additionally, Angelonia has a colorful summer bloom whereas Antirrhinum, true Snapdragons, bloom in the spring, making it a great option for brightening up the landscape on those long summer days. Dozens of cultivars of Angelonia are available in a wonderful arrangement of colors from a deep mauve to purples, pinks and white. Even a deep blue with A. angustifolia ‘Wedgwood Blue’ with its bicolor white and blue flowers.
A. angustifolia ‘Wedgewood Blue’
From the plantaginaceae family, Angelonia angustifolia is a herbaceous perennial, native to Mexico and West Indies. (Marie, 2017) Summer Snapdragon is very tolerant of dry soil for short durations but prefers a semi regular, medium watering schedule. In relatively more northern areas, Angelonia is grown as an annual but in more southern, frost free areas it is regularly grown as a perennial. The Plantaginaceae family is a family of flowering plants that are very attractive to pollinators such as bees or butterflies bringing a different and beautiful aspect of life to a garden. This aromatic, slightly bushy plant is great when grown massed in beds and on borders and also does extremely well potted. Often used to fill garden plots around homes and businesses, accentuating statues, shrubs or birdbaths, anywhere it can get a good amount of sunlight. Could also be used to great success around apartment buildings, filling beds and borders with beautiful and attractive color and potentially drawing attention to specific areas or away from unsightly parking areas and architecture. Could even be used as a nice addition to a balcony garden for the home gardener who would just like to bring some extra summer color variety to their home’s exterior without needing to paint or decorate to excess. Enjoys around six to eight hours of daily sunlight and falls in USDA hardiness zones nine through 11. (Missouri Botanical Garden) Flowers bloom in a range of colors and very quickly draw attention. The long summer bloom accompanied with the fragrant scent makes it a valuable landscaping plant in smaller home gardens as well as bordering entryways of larger gardens with little upkeep. Summer Snapdragon will die out during the winter so will need to be replaced around April once temperatures begin to come up.
Angelonia grown in bunches to create a beautiful layered color pattern. Excellent for borders and smaller beds.
Angelonia Angustifolia - Plant Finder, www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=287016. (Missouri Botanical Garden)
Marie, Joanne. “Snapdragon Varieties That Bloom All Summer.” Home Guides | SF Gate, 21 Nov. 2017, homeguides.sfgate.com/snapdragon-varieties-bloom-summer-65294.html. (Marie, 2017)
Elpel, Thomas J. “Plantaginaceae Plants of the Plantain Family.” Plantaginaceae: Plantain Family. Identify Plants and Flowers., www.wildflowers-and-weeds.com/Plant_Families/Plantaginaceae.htm. (Elpel)
