OPINION: EDDIE SEAGLE: Year of the Angelonia

May 1—"The month of May is the pleasant time; its face is beautiful; the blackbird sings his full song, the living wood is his holding, the cuckoos are singing and ever singing; there is a welcome before the brightness of the summer." Lady Gregory. "At last came the golden month of the wild folk — honey-sweet May, when the birds come back, and the flowers come out, and the air is full of the sunrise scents and songs of the dawning year." Samuel Scoville Jr.

Angelonia, sometimes referred to as "summer snapdragon," is a genus of approximately 30 species, which grow natively in regions from Mexico to Argentina. The plants grow mostly upright, with stalks filled with flowers. Angelonia florets resemble tiny orchid-like blooms and their shape aids in pollination through hairs in the inner corolla that help bees forage for pollen. With its tolerance to heat and dry conditions, Angelonia thrives through most summer gardens with little extra maintenance or care.

Angelonia angustifolia is the most recognizable garden Angelonia species. It is native to Mexico and the West Indies. A. angustifolia has upright flowers and a somewhat bushy habit. It is noted for its long summer bloom of snapdragon-like flowers. Plants typically grow 12-18″ tall. Stems are narrow with oblong to lanceolate, green leaves. The foliage has a soft scent, and flower colors are a wide range from white, purple, light pink, dark reds, bicolor flowers, and more.

These three species, Angelonia crassifolia, Angelonia integerrima, and Angelonia campestris are more of a sub-shrub genus in terms of habit and look.

They are native to Brazil and first classified by botanists in the early 1800s. They grow much more wild primarily in a dry tropical biome.

Angelonia salicariifolia was published in floral journals in 1812 as the result of excursions to Bolivia, Brazil, and northeast Argentina. This genus has herbal and medicinal uses in some species. It also grows primarily in the seasonally dry tropical biome.

At this time, there are two Angelonia angustifolia seed series that gardeners can start and grow in their garden. Serena? — A durable series and a perfect choice for gardeners looking for water-wise, heat-loving plants. Plants grow up to 50% larger in Florida, the southeast, and similar southern climates. It is available in four colors: white, rose, blue and purple.

And Serenita? — an excellent solution where shorter and more manageable Angelonia is needed. It has a more naturally compact habit and is available in seven colors: white, lavender, pink (an AAS Winner), rose, raspberry, sky blue, and purple.

Most Angelonia for your garden is vegetatively propagated. Alonia? series has an upright, mounded habit that is early to bloom and features extra-large flowers. There are 14 colors and bi-colors in the series all of which are great for landscapes and containers.

Archangel? series thrives in extreme heat and humidity with extra-large size blooms on well-branched plants that resist breakage and tangling. There are 10 colors in this series, including a new ruby sangria with dark-red hues.

AngelDance? is a taller and more vigorous series with flexible stems that dance in the wind, creating an attractive cottage garden look. Very reminiscent of a foxglove or larkspur flower. Blooms are bicolored in fuchsia and violet

Angelface? is available in three types: standard, super, and cascade.

The difference between them is the shape of the plant or its habit. Like all Angelonia, they bloom all season without removing the spent blossoms.

AngelMist? has a low-growing, spreading habit that makes it great for groundcover in garden beds, or spilling out of hanging baskets or patio containers.

Five colors are available, including a bicolor of pink-and-purple named Berry Sparkler.

Aria and Aria Alta — the Aria series has large flower spikes on upright plants that grow up to 16" tall whereas the Aria Alta types are slightly larger, growing up to 24" tall. Aria Alta comes in purple, pink, and raspberry while the Arias come in white, blue, pink bicolor, purple, and soft pink.

Carita? series comes in purple, raspberry, and white on a spreading, upright habit. It beats the heat and tolerates drought, making it an ideal choice for warm-season landscape plantings and hanging baskets.

Sungelonia? is an elegant and upright thriller that is perfect for patio containers and landscapes. It's notable for its compactness, uniformity, and excellent branching habit. They grow up to 15" tall and are available in three colors: blue, deep pink, and white.

In the garden, Angelonia is very low maintenance with no pruning or deadheading required.

They do their best in warmer temperatures and grow slowly when the temperature is below 64°F (18°C). As a drought-tolerant plant, once established Angelonia will thrive in soil that is not saturated with moisture.

Angelonia is a versatile plant for many uses. Grow spreading Angelonia in a 10-12 inch hanging basket, 3 plants per basket. You can combine a single color or mix colors in the basket. Either way will give a flowerful and colorful hanging basket for the garden.

Angelonia can be a thriller, a filler, or a spiller plant for a combination container. Combining different Angelonia habits with other sun-loving plants in a larger container is a good match. and growing Angelonia in-ground for landscaping makes gardening easy.

The plants are well-behaved in the garden, not tangling with other plants. Their blooms also last a long time, providing season-long color.

This fact sheet is provided as an educational service of the National Garden Bureau (www.ngb.org/year-of-the-angelonia/). Welcome May with smiles and landscaping additions.

"You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds..." -Ephesians 4:22-23. [Jesus continued his message, saying:] "Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth." -John 4:23-24. "In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold." -Ephesians 4:26-27.

Eddie Seagle is a Sustainability Verifier, Golf Environment Organization (Scotland), Agronomist and Horticulturalist, CSI: Seagle (Consulting Services International) LLC, Professor Emeritus and Honorary Alumnus (Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College), Distinguished Professor for Teaching and Learning (University System of Georgia) and Short Term Missionary (Heritage Church, Moultrie). Direct inquiries to [email protected].