Angelonia 'Serena'

Common name: Angelonia, Summer Snapdragon

Botanical name: Angelonia angustifolia

What it is: Angelonia is a long blooming annual. Complex flowers, similar to snapdragon, rise from spiky green foliage in a form resembling salvia. Many new cultivars are offered in a range of heights and colors in hues of pink, lavender, and white. Aromatic varieties are also available.

Size: Heights vary, but commonly 12 to 24 inches tall, space 12 to 20 inches apart.

Where to use: Plant in a sunny spot. Angelonia tolerates hot and dry conditions better than many annuals. Can be mixed in a perennial borders for season-long color or added to containers.

Why I like it: Towers packed with perky flowers shoot from this plant all summer long. Angelonia is a hyper active bloomer. Small flowers literally cover the top section of the plant. I love this annual in my borders to keep the flower show going in between perennial performances. The flowers are showy, but in a delicate way that blends nicely with larger flowers like poppies, Stokes aster or Japanese anemone. In containers, their upright form and constant flowering earn them star status.