Angelonia Flower Care Guide: How to Grow Angelonia

Angelonia (Angelonia angustifolia) is a perennial flowering plant native to Mexico and the West Indies. Angelonia flowers have a tubular shape and come in a wide range of colors including mauve, lavender, and coral. Angelonia flowers attract butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators.

Also known as summer snapdragons, angelonia plants generally grow up to three feet tall. Their long blooming time makes them a popular choice for landscaping. As a semi-tropical plant, angelonia plants do well in hot climates.

There are many cultivars of angelonia, most of which work well in sunny yards and container gardens.

1. 1. ‘Angelface Super White’: The ‘Angelface Super White’ is a hybrid cultivar with white flowers and green leaves. It can grow over three feet tall, making it one of the tallest angelonias. It requires full sun, and its bloom time runs from late spring to the first frost of the season.
2. 2. ‘Angelface Cascade Pink’: The ‘Angelface Cascade Pink’ is a hybrid variety with pink flowers and green leaves. It grows well in hanging baskets and window boxes, and thrives from late spring to late autumn.
3. 3. ‘Serena Purple’: As the name would suggest, the ‘Serena Purple’ cultivar has purple flowers. Like most other angelonias, the bloom time runs from late spring to first frost. This type of angelonia is extremely tolerant of heat and humidity, making it an ideal option for tropical climates.
4. 4. ‘Angelface Blue’: The ‘Angelface Blue’ cultivar has purple flowers and is one of the most drought-tolerant angelonias.
5. 5. ‘Angelface Wedgewood Blue’: The ‘Angelface Wedgewood Blue’ variety has lavender and white flowers against green foliage. The bicolored flowers will last from spring until late autumn, as long as they get enough direct sunlight.

Angelonia plants are relatively easy to plant so long as you follow a few simple steps.

1. 1. Plant angelonias in the spring. The best time to plant an angelonia plant is in the late spring, long after the possibility of a late-season frost.
2. 2. Plant them in full sun. Whether you plant your angelonias in a pot or flower bed, make sure the location gets at least six hours of direct sunlight.
3. 3. Use soil with nutrients and good drainage. The soil needs to be loose so water can drain easily. The soil should also be rich in nutrients with a pH between 5.5 and 6.2.

While angelonias don’t require deadheading or regular maintenance, putting in some effort will help them look their best.

• Fertilize once a month. Use an all-purpose, time-release fertilizer once a month to promote growth and blooming. Adding mulch and other forms of organic matter may also keep weeds at bay and retain moisture in the ground around the plant.
• Water when the soil dries out. Angelonias are fairly drought-resistant plants once they’ve secured their root systems in the ground. Water them two to three times a week until they’re established. After that, only water them when the top layer of soil feels dry to the touch. Overwatering can result in root rot.
• Keep an eye on pests. Aphids are the most common pest to affect angelonia plants. Spray the plants with water to remove aphids.
• Give your plants plenty of space. In humid climates without proper air circulation, powdery mildew may grow on angelonia leaves. To avoid this, space the plants out or move them to an area with better air circulation.

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