Annual
Angelonia / Summer Snapdragon
Angelonia angustifolia · Plantaginaceae
Also called: Summer Snapdragon, Angelonia
Angelonia / Summer Snapdragon (Angelonia angustifolia) is a moderate-water annual well suited to Tucson and the low desert. It grows to 12-18 in tall (some to 24 in), 12-18 in wide in full sun, with a moderate growth rate.
Angelonia / Summer Snapdragon at a glance
- Water use
- Moderate (established)
- Sun
- Full sun; tolerates light afternoon shade in Tucson's hottest months. Blooms best with strong sun.
- Mature size
- 12-18 in tall (some to 24 in), 12-18 in wide
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Bloom
- Purple, violet-blue, pink, white, and bicolors (small snapdragon-like flowers on upright spikes), Late spring through fall; one of the most reliable summer bloomers in the low desert, flowering steadily through heat and monsoon.
- Cold hardiness
- Frost-sensitive (USDA 9a-9b); tender, grown as a warm-season annual in Tucson. May survive mild winters as a short-lived perennial in protected microclimates but typically winter-killed.
- Soil
- Well-drained, moderately fertile soil; tolerates Tucson's alkaline soils. Amend heavy/native soil with organic matter for best performance and ensure drainage.
- Native range
- Mexico, West Indies, and South America (warm Americas)
- Best used as
- Summer color beds and borders, Containers, Cut flowers, Pollinator gardens (a top heat-season bloomer), Mass plantings for sustained color
- Wildlife
- Attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds; a valuable nectar source through summer.
- Toxicity
- Generally considered non-toxic / no significant toxicity to humans or pets reported.
How to grow Angelonia / Summer Snapdragon in Tucson & the low desert
Watering
Water regularly to establish (2-3 times weekly), then about 1-2 times weekly; moderately drought-tolerant once established but blooms best with consistent moisture and good drainage. Warm-season annual in Tucson (treated as an annual; tender perennial in frost-free zones): plant transplants after last frost (Mar-Apr) for bloom through the hot summer and monsoon.
Fertilizer & nutrients
Moderate feeder for sustained bloom. Apply a balanced slow-release fertilizer at planting and a light liquid feed every few weeks during the growing season.
Pruning & care
Largely self-cleaning; pinch young plants for bushiness and shear back lightly if it gets leggy to promote a fresh flush. Deadheading not strictly required.
Notes
One of the best annuals for nonstop bloom through Tucson's brutal summer and monsoon season, when many flowers stall. Provides upright spike form among mounding annuals. Some light afternoon shade and consistent water help it look its best in peak June-July heat.
Sources: University of Arizona Cooperative Extension (Pima County Master Gardeners); AMWUA / low-desert annual color guides; Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder