Angelonia salicariifolia - An Angel for Your Scented Garden

“Angelonia salicariifolia - An Angel for Your Scented Garden”, a copyrighted post, was written for My Nice Garden blog by Autumn Belle @ http://www.mynicegarden.com/ on July 4th, 2010

The flowers of the Angelonia salicariifolia are double lipped and variegated. They also look like snapdragons. They attract butterflies, bees and humming birds.

The shiny and glossy leaves look like willow leaves. They are aromatic and have a mild apple fragrance, hence it is a good choice for the scented garden.

Scientific name: Angelonia salicariifolia

Common names:
Angelonia, Willowleaf Angelon, Angel Mist,
Summer Snapdragon, Angel Flower, Purple Pasion

Chinese name:  天使花('tian shi hua' or angel flower)
Malay name: Bunga Satay (Satay flower)

Family: Scrophulariaceae (Figwort family)

Origin:Tropical America

Photographs taken by Autumn Belle at The Secret Garden of 1-Utama

Grateful thanks to Dr. Francis Ng of The Secret Garden of 1-Utama.

This plant which is covered with sticky hairs is classified as an ornamental perennial herb. It is suited for flower beds and borders. It can also be grown in containers.

It prefers moist, well drained, fertile soil and loves the sun. Prunning will encourage new growth and new blooms. Eventually it will die back. Propagation of new plants is by softwood cuttings and rarely by seeds.

Angelonia salicariifolia blooms continuously throughout the year in the tropics and late winter to early spring in cooler climates. The flowers may be lavender, purple or white in colour and they are good as cut flowers.

Have you grow or seen this plant in your climate zone?

To my friends in the USA,
HAPPY 4th of July!

This is my entry for Today's Flowers # 100, a meme which opens every Sunday, 2pm GMT. My grateful thanks to Today's Flowers team members; Luiz Santili Jr, Denise in Virginia, Laerte Pupo and Sandy Carlson. To participate and view other gorgeous flowers around the world, click here.