Any Pics by chance? :)

I googled it to see what it looks like. It's common name is summer snapdragon. It's perennial to zones 9-11. Pretty little thing!

MeMo

YES!!! Same here! I went to the garden center and told one of the staffers I was only "looking for deals". (I figure they know where the deals are!) The PW annuals were on sale (barely) and she raved and raved about the angelonia, so I bought 3 deep, deep purple ones...gorgeous! They bloomed their fool heads off, but now the sun has lowered and they don't get enough sun...or maybe they're just winding down?

I looked and looked for seeds with no luck. I think to get more, I have to take cuttings and grow them on over winter. I was kinda hoping they might be hardy if I mulched them really well.

Meanwhile, I am in the market for some seed of this beauty!

Lime

Thanks for your replies. From what I've been able to find out so far, angelonia is a plant that doesn't come true from seed. I did find a source that claims to have the first seed available (with a few small photos, Keesha . . . sorry I have none of my own!)
Maybe stem cuttings would be worth a shot, Lime. It does seem to be "winding down" as you say, like most of my other annuals. I'm wondering if I should have cut them back a bit earlier in the season as I did the petunias, lobelia etc. It's still very pretty though.

Memo, it's very "snapdragon-like", only the blossoms are much smaller,like annual lobelia. This is just a delightful,wee sweetie that I intend to always have in a few pots in the future.

Patti

Here is a link that might be useful: a seed source

Just in case you're in the market -- my flowers were large -- as large as one of those open snapdragons. Mine were also those PW hybrid annuals -- these are the ones that they've done a lot of research on and you can't get seeds from them. They come in big 6" pots and have a giant tag on them that says PW. I wouldn't really care if it comes true from seed; I'd be happy with something that looks close! :)

Rooted cuttings -- sigh -- I just don't have the set up for holding them over winter.

I think I'll cut one of the plants back -- waaaay back to the nubs and see what happens. I wonder about the winding down part, though. I assumed it was the shade, but maybe it doesn't like the cooler nights (low 60s here)

Lime

Lime, I'm EXCITED about the prospect of finding LARGER angelonia next spring! Thanks for mentioning it!

It occurs to me that it's pretty nice to have a place like this where I can talk about plants and excitement in the same breath without getting THE LOOK. (Except for the fact that we can't talk or look here. Ha!)

Patti

Lime, angelonia did not live over for me, and I am zone 9, although we get a lot more cold than most of zone 9.

Well, that's not what I wanted to hear! LOL! Even if you're in a cold zone 9, that's a far cry from zone 5. Guess it's a pipe dream that they would live over :( They're awfully expensive at the garden center -- I think the sale price was $4.65 each and I bought 3. Now it's not the end of the world, but still......

Thanks for the report,
Lime

Patti and Lime,

Summer snapdragons are considered a tender perennial/tropical plant here in DFW and surviving a winter, even in this climate, would be iffy. I'm afraid it just doesn't like cold weather.

But having said that, what do you have to lose? When the weather starts to get cold, pile on the mulch, leaves and keep a positive thought. :-) Realistically though, taking a cutting would be the way to go.

Good Luck!
Marilyn

I had great success with Angelonia - even came back the following year (not from seed, just the same plant). Very hardy in the sense that it could take our dry hot Santa Ana wind conditions.

Which reminds me, I need to get some more!

Anne

Marilyn's right - it's only a true perennial in zone 10. Grows like a weed in my friend's garden - in Mexico! lol!

Still, I plant it every year, usually in containers. And I've had success having it winter over if I remember to cut it back in Nov., then move the container to a sheltered spot on my deck. When my night temps get into the 30s consistently, I move the container into my potting room indoors. I put it up on a shelf where it stays around 65 deg. This might work for some of you in colder areas.

One other thing, I've found they like good draining soil and not a lot of fussing. I side dressed one with compost and it started looking floppy. Seems they don't like to be fertilized.

Diana

I bought two plants last summer and absolutely fell in love with it - it bloomed ALL summer and well into the fall. Then I got into WSing and saw the seed in Parks Seed Catalog. It is expensive 10 seeds for $2.95 I think. I didn't have great germination but could have been my fault for trying them too early. I will try again this winter and sow them later since they are so tropical. I like the fact that the plants hold up very well in heavy rains and don't get beat down. All around good little performer - well worth the money.....

Lynne

Mine survived winter but did die back to the ground. They have been a workhorse for me....blooming all summer and never wanting to quit. I now have three colors....LOVE IT!!!
Theresa

I took cuttings from mine last fall and kept them in water in a west facing window and they all rooted very well.Spring came and I went to plant them back where they were the year before and the parent plant survived and was emerging and boy,she grew into a big wonderful clump.Now I have 3 colors and will overwinter more for different gardens next yr.I love this plant.

Ya know, Moon, I could send you some really great cuttings for you to do the same with. Then mebbe in spring you could send me back 5 with roots and keep the rest? That's all I'd need.

Lime

Lime,
Now that sounds like a winner..gosh free plants just for letting them sit in my window and root.I will gladly root some of mine and send you some next spring,but you will have to remind me.I have alot of mental..pause moments lol
moonphase

Natch! I'll remind you for sure!

Lime