Angelonia. (Photo by Joshua Siskin)
Angelonia angustifolia, commonly called Summer Snapdragon, is a perennial plant that is in season right now. I looked for it in the 2001 edition of the Sunset Western Garden Book, an authoritative gardening resource, but it wasn't listed there. But over the last 20 years, Angelonia angustifolia has gradually made its presence felt in gardens and become one of the most popular bedding plants for summer gardens. It flowers from May to October, and because it's evergreen, you can be sure it will keep blooming for at least a few years.
Angelonias are difficult to propagate from seed, but they can be easily propagated from cuttings. When growth vigorously begins in the spring, snip off the top 3-4 inches of a non-flowering shoot. Dip the cutting in rooting hormone and place in well-draining potting soil in bright light but out of direct sunlight.
Incidentally, snapdragons can also be propagated by cuttings. To do so, wait until fall and take the midsection of a 4-6 inch long shoot and treat it the same way you would a summer snapdragon cutting. Angelonia and snapdragon (which are perennials but are rarely treated that way) can also be propagated by digging up and dividing the root mass in spring or fall. Be careful not to cut the roots and to not get them tangled. If the stem or shoot is still attached, you can plant each root section in the garden or in a container.
Angelonia's habitat stretches from Mexico to Argentina, where it thrives especially in places with dry climates year-round. Angelonia is one of those plants that are fancifully classified as “thrillers, fillers and spillers,” meaning they are plants that bring excitement and thrills because of some great quality (in this case, the vibrant masses of flowers they display). They can neatly fill up a flower bed or container with thick masses of flowers. They can grow up to 2 feet in all directions and can even grow explosively, spilling out of pots or hanging baskets.
Angelonia has characteristics that set it apart from many other summer-flowering plants. Angelonia can withstand the strongest heat of the sun with minimal water. Flowers do not need to be removed, but occasional pruning will help the plant grow more compact. Like snapdragons, angelonia cut flowers will last a week or more in a vase. Unlike snapdragons, angelonias are not bothered by pests or diseases. Angelonia flowers come in pink, red, blue, purple, and white.
Both snapdragons and angelonias belong to the Plantaginaceae family, which does not include the banana-like plantains. But this family contains a genus that, in my opinion, is unique in the plant kingdom. That genus is Hebe, whose flowers are haunting, vaguely cylindrical or conical in blue, lavender, purple, or pink. The plant's form varies from a mat-like ground cover to a leafy shrub over 10 feet tall, but in the nursery trade, you will only find dwarf subshrubs. The leaves may be variegated, green in the center with a thick creamy white border around it, or the leaves may emerge purple before turning green and cream. Hebe (HEE-bee) is Greek for “flower of youth.” It's a prescient name, since the species that make up this genus rarely live more than 10 years. But what a decade this has been! Still, it would be wise to propagate your hebe from shoot tip cuttings before they die off as quickly as expected.
Hebes are supposed to be planted in perfectly well-drained soil, but I have seen them thrive in soil that is somewhat compacted. I wouldn't plant an entire hedge in a place where the soil's drainage is questionable, but as an experimental project, it might be worth trying one or two plants in such soil, provided that the soil you backfill the planting hole with is mixed with 30 percent soil conditioner. In fact, hebes are known to suffer from lack of moisture in sandy soil, so in hot weather, water them at least twice a week in a well-drained area and cover the ground around them with mulch. You can order two varieties of hebe from Annie's Annuals and Perennials (anniesannuals.com), which grow to two and three feet tall.
California Native of the Week: If you don't have an Island Bush Poppy, native to the Channel Islands, you might want to try planting one. Since I became acquainted with the Island Bush Poppy (Dendromecon harfordii) many years ago, I have yet to find a plant that even remotely compares to it. The leaves can be green, teal, or blue-gray, depending on how the sun hits it at any given moment, but the flowers are always unmistakably bright, buttery yellow. They bloom from spring through early summer. They grow into large shrubs or trees up to 20 feet tall. The common bush poppy (Dendromecon rigida) is smaller, growing to 8 feet tall and 6 feet wide, making it easier to manage in the garden, but the spectacle of its flowers can't compete with that of its larger island cousin.
Can you recommend any flowering plants that are suitable for growing in hot climates? If so, please send your recommendations to joshua@perfectplants.com. We always welcome your questions, comments, gardening woes, gardening success stories and favorite plants.
