Tired of marigolds and petunias? Angelonias (A. angustifolia) are superior summer garden annuals. Angelonias require very little care. They possess superior heat and drought tolerance. I prefer the Serena series (seed produced type) because local greenhouse growers produce and sell them more cheaply. Vegetative (cutting) type angelonias grow taller, are heavy bloomers, and are more pricey at garden centers.
Varieties of 'Serena' angelonia come in white, pink lavender, lavender, and purple flowers. Plant them after the danger of spring frosts in your gardening area is low. After planting, follow-up with a few early waterings. Then, sit back and enjoy angelonas in constant bloom from late spring to the first hard frost of autumn.
Serena angelonias grow 12-15 inches in height and 14-16 inches in spread in my zone 6-b garden.
photo: pentas (front) and 'Lavender Pink Serena' angelonia (rear)
Seed-propagated Angelonia (like Serena) tend to be better branched too, though the flowers tend to be larger on the vegetatively-propagated angelonia (like AngelMist, Carita, etc)
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