Plants
Angelonia
Angelonia angustifolia · Plantaginaceae
Angelonia is the answer to hot summers: where snapdragons give up in July, it just keeps flowering. The upright flower spikes in violet, pink and white look like little orchids and go for weeks without deadheading. We buy our angelonias at the auction in compact, well-rooted quality — they are among the most uncomplicated summer bloomers in our range.
- Light
- Full sun; copes with blazing midday sun without any trouble.
- Watering
- Moderate — better to water thoroughly and less often; short dry spells are tolerated.
- Care level
- Easy
- Botanical
- Angelonia angustifolia
The trade is dominated by the Serena and Archangel series: Serena stays compact at around 30 centimetres and suits boxes and bed edges, while Archangel carries noticeably larger individual blooms. The Angelface series grows up to 60 centimetres and works well as a vertical accent in containers. All of them flower from May right into October.
Angelonia earns its reputation as a snapdragon substitute: the flower structure is similar, but it is more heat-proof, more rain-tolerant and self-cleaning. Spent blooms simply drop off, so tedious deadheading is unnecessary. That makes it ideal for anyone who wants summer colour but has little time.
The spot should be as sunny as possible — angelonia is a true sun worshipper that only really gets going above 25 degrees. It will grow in partial shade, but flowers far more sparsely and becomes soft in habit. The soil can be rich and free-draining; it shrugs off short dry spells better than most bedding companions.
The typical mistake is planting out too early: as a child of the tropics, angelonia dislikes cold nights and stops growing below ten degrees. It does not belong outdoors before mid-May. It also answers over-enthusiastic watering with yellow leaves — better one thorough soak than a daily sip.
In combinations the cool violet and pink tones are a lovely resting point among hot summer colours. It looks classic with white petunias and silvery foliage, Mediterranean with pelargoniums and marigolds. A bonus for the conscience: bees and bumblebees love the flowers, and the leaves give off a light apple scent when rubbed.
Is Angelonia toxic to children and pets?
- Children
- Non-toxic
- Cats
- Non-toxic
- Dogs
- Non-toxic
Angelonia is considered non-toxic to cats, dogs and children, making it a good choice for a family balcony. As with all ornamentals, eating it is still not advised, as larger amounts can upset the stomach.
Overview: toxic & non-toxic plants for cats, dogs and children
Care
- 01Choose a fully sunny, warm spot — the hotter, the better it flowers.
- 02Plant out only from mid-May, after the last late frosts.
- 03Water moderately and let the soil dry slightly in between; avoid waterlogging.
- 04Feed with liquid fertiliser every one to two weeks and it will flower without pause.
- 05Deadheading is unnecessary — the plant cleans itself.
- 06Cut leggy shoots back by a third in high summer to trigger a fresh flush.
Frequently asked
- Is angelonia hardy?
- No, angelonia is not hardy here and is grown as an annual summer flower. In theory it can be overwintered in a bright spot at around 15 degrees, but it is rarely worth the effort — young nursery plants flower more vigorously the following year.
- Do you need to deadhead angelonia?
- No, and that is one of its biggest advantages. Spent individual blooms drop off by themselves and the spike keeps flowering from the bottom up. Only when the plant gets long and loose in late summer does a cut back by a third help trigger a fresh flush.
- Is angelonia toxic to pets?
- Angelonia is considered non-toxic to cats and dogs, which makes it one of the less problematic summer flowers for households with nibbling pets. In sensitive animals, eating larger amounts can still cause mild stomach upset.
- Why is my angelonia not flowering?
- It almost always comes down to too little sun or temperatures that are too cool. Angelonia needs full sun and real summer warmth to set buds. A lack of nutrients also slows flowering — regular liquid feeding usually gets it going again within two weeks.