Summer snapdragon

Sun

Full sun, ideally at least 6 hours daily; light afternoon shade is acceptable in very hot climates.

Water

Water regularly while establishing, then when the upper soil dries. Established plants tolerate brief dry spells, but flower better with steady moisture; containers need more frequent watering.

Soil

Well-drained soil of average fertility; avoid heavy, waterlogged ground. Use free-draining potting compost in containers.

Height

1-3 ft (0.3-0.9 m)

Spread

1-1.5 ft (0.3-0.45 m)

Flowers

Late spring or early summer to autumn frost; purple, violet, pink, white or bicoloured flowers, depending on the selection.

Foliage

Evergreen. Narrow, pointed green leaves, usually in opposite pairs, with a slightly toothed edge and an aromatic scent when crushed.

Growth

Fast in warm weather.

Care needed

Low

• Pollinators
• Deer resistant
• Drought tolerant
• Heat tolerant
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Easy

Toughness

Fairly tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   0.5 ft (0.15 m)

2. After 1 year

   2 ft (0.6 m)

   full size

Full size in one season.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Safe

Growth rate

Fast

• Plant out only after frost risk has passed and the soil has warmed.
• Space plants about 1-1.5 ft (0.3-0.45 m) apart, allowing for the mature size of your selection.
• Water at soil level and let the surface dry slightly between waterings; never leave pots standing in water.
• Apply a balanced, slow-release fertiliser at planting according to the label; avoid heavy feeding that encourages soft growth.
• Add a light mulch to conserve moisture, keeping it clear of the stems.

Pruning. Deadheading is usually unnecessary. If plants become lanky or flowering slows in midsummer, shorten the stems by about one-third, then water to encourage fresh growth.

Late winter

If growing a seed-raised selection, sow indoors in warmth about 8-10 weeks before your last expected frost; press seeds onto the surface without burying them.

Spring

Gradually acclimatise young plants to outdoor conditions, then plant after frost risk has passed and nights are consistently mild.

Early summer

Check soil moisture regularly while roots establish, especially in pots.

Midsummer

Trim lanky plants by one-third and check leaf undersides for pests.

Late summer

Take cuttings of healthy, non-flowering shoots if you want to keep a particular selection.

Autumn

Remove frost-killed plants, or move rooted cuttings into a bright, frost-free place before cold weather arrives.

• Plant repeated groups through sunny borders for upright flower spikes among rounded or mounding plants.
• Use compact selections in patio pots with trailing verbena or sweet potato vine.
• Edge paths and small beds with lower-growing selections for a long summer display.
• Mix purple or white selections with ornamental grasses for contrasting flower and foliage shapes.

Garden styles it suits: Cottage garden, Modern, Modern courtyard, Southern, Tropical and Small-space.

Plant it with: Lantana, Pentas, Zinnia, Verbena, Sweet potato vine and Mealycup sage.

Wildlife: Flowers attract bees, especially bumblebees. Its value to local pollinators varies with climate and which insects are present.

• Root rot in wet soil: improve drainage, reduce watering and discard badly affected plants.
• Aphids on young shoots: rinse them off with water; use insecticidal soap if infestations persist, following the label.
• Spider mites in hot, dry conditions: look for fine webbing and stippled leaves, rinse leaf undersides and avoid letting plants become severely drought-stressed.
• Sparse flowering or weak growth in shade or cool weather: move containers into full sun and delay outdoor planting until conditions are warm.

Not known to be toxic to cats, dogs, horses or people. Species-specific information, particularly for horses, is limited; no plant part is established as poisonous, but it is not an edible plant and eating it may cause stomach upset.

• Snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus)

  Snapdragons have larger flowers with a closed, hinged mouth that opens when gently squeezed. Angelonia flowers are smaller and open-faced, and the plant performs better in summer heat.

• Purple toadflax (Linaria purpurea)

  Purple toadflax has much narrower, often grey-green leaves and flowers with a conspicuous long spur behind them. Angelonia has broader green leaves and lacks that long spur.

The common name refers to its snapdragon-like flowers and summer flowering season, while angustifolia means narrow-leaved.

Propagation. Sow seed from seed-raised selections indoors in warm conditions, keeping it on the surface because light aids germination. Take softwood cuttings in spring or summer to preserve a named selection; many hybrids do not come true from seed. Some cultivars are protected against unauthorised propagation.

Accepted botanical name

Angelonia angustifolia

In the US and Canada

Introduced in the lower 48 states and Pacific Basin.

Native range

Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Leeward Is., Mexico Central, Mexico Gulf and Mexico Northeast.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.