General 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.
Noteworthy Characteristics:
Native to Mexico and the West Indies, angelonia (sometimes also called summer snapdragon) 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.
Problems: Click for detailed list of pests and problems.
No serious insect or disease problems. Watch for aphids and powdery mildew.
Uses:
In St. Louis, grow as a bedding annual or in patio containers.
© Missouri Botanical
Garden, 2001-2009
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