Angelonia angustifolia Serena® Blue | Summer Snapdragon | Pelleted Seeds

Angelonia angustifolia Serena® Blue is a heat-loving, long-flowering annual with upright spikes of rich blue-purple to plum-purple flowers. Part of the professional Serena® series, it is one of the few Angelonia series that can be grown reliably from seed, offering gardeners vigorous, uniform plants with the premium appearance normally associated with vegetatively propagated Angelonia.

Serena® Blue is particularly valuable for hot, sunny gardens, containers and landscape plantings. Once established, plants tolerate heat and periods of dry weather well and continue flowering from late spring through summer into late summer. The upright yet softly mounded plants reach approximately 41–51 cm tall and 30–36 cm wide.

The flower spikes also make attractive additions to fresh-cut flower arrangements.

Plant Information

Botanical name: Angelonia angustifolia
Series: Serena®
Variety: Blue
Common name: Summer Snapdragon
Plant type: Annual / tender perennial in warm climates
Flower colour: Blue-purple to plum-purple
Plant habit: Upright, columnar and mounded
Height: 41–51 cm
Spread: 30–36 cm
Spacing: 20–25 cm
Blooming season: Late spring through late summer
Exposure: Full sun
Water needs: Moderate; drought tolerant once established
Soil: Average, fertile and well-drained
Seed form: Pelleted seeds
Plug crop time: 5–6 weeks
Transplant to finish: approx. 8–9 weeks
Uses: Borders, flower beds, mass planting, containers and cut flowers

Long-Flowering Colour for Hot Summers

Serena® Blue produces numerous upright flower spikes covered with small blue-purple to plum-purple flowers reminiscent of miniature snapdragons – the reason Angelonia is commonly known as Summer Snapdragon.

Unlike many plants that slow down during periods of summer heat, Angelonia thrives in warm conditions. Serena® Blue is particularly well suited to sunny gardens and containers where summer temperatures are high.

Its long flowering period makes it an excellent choice for gardeners who want reliable colour without constant maintenance.

How to Sow Angelonia Serena® Blue

The seeds are supplied as pelleted seed, making the very small Angelonia seeds easier to handle and sow.

For best results, start the seeds indoors.

Sowing method: Transplant
Seed form: Pelleted
Seeds per cell: 1 pellet
Germination temperature: 21–24°C
Germination time: approximately 4–5 days under suitable professional conditions
Light: Light is required – do not cover the seed
Plug crop: approximately 5–6 weeks

Sow one pellet per cell onto the surface of a fine, moist seed-starting substrate.

Do not cover the seeds with soil or vermiculite. Light is important during germination.

Keep the substrate consistently moist so that the pellet can dissolve completely, but avoid waterlogged conditions.

Growing the Seedlings

After germination, provide plenty of light and good air circulation.

A suitable growing temperature is approximately:

Day: 18–21°C
Night: 16–18°C

Once the young plants have developed sufficiently and the risk of frost has passed, gradually acclimatise them to outdoor conditions before planting them in their final position.

Angelonia is a warm-season plant, so avoid planting outside too early into cold soil.

Allow approximately 20–25 cm between plants.

Full Sun and Summer Heat

For the strongest growth and most abundant flowering, plant Serena® Blue in full sun.

Angelonia performs especially well during warm summer weather. Once established, Serena® Blue has good tolerance to heat and periods of drought, making it useful for water-conscious summer plantings.

Although established plants tolerate some dryness, young plants should be watered regularly while their root systems develop.

The soil should be well drained. Avoid locations where water remains around the roots for prolonged periods.

Excellent for Pots and Containers

Serena® Blue is an excellent container plant. Its upright growth makes it particularly useful as the central or taller element in mixed container combinations.

Combine it with lower-growing or trailing plants around the edge of the pot to create layered summer displays.

It is suitable for:

Patio containers • Large pots • Mixed containers • Sunny balconies • Garden beds • Borders • Mass plantings

Plants grown in containers may require more frequent watering than those planted directly in the garden.

Serena® – Angelonia Grown from Seed

One of the most important characteristics of the Serena® series is that it can be grown from seed.

Many premium Angelonia varieties are propagated vegetatively, while Serena® offers gardeners and professional growers the possibility of producing uniform plants directly from seed.

The series was developed for reliable warm-season performance and works particularly well in summer bedding, premium containers and landscape plantings.

In very warm southern climates, plants can grow considerably larger than under cooler conditions.

Low-Maintenance Summer Flower

Once established, Serena® Blue requires relatively little maintenance.

Its naturally upright, branching habit generally does not require extensive pruning. Removing damaged or declining growth when necessary helps keep plants tidy.

Regular watering during establishment followed by moderate watering, plenty of sun and good drainage are the main requirements for successful growth.

For Cut Flowers

The upright flower spikes can also be harvested for fresh floral arrangements.

The blue-purple colouring works particularly well in summer arrangements with white, pale pink, lavender, apricot and green flowers and foliage.

For gardeners who combine ornamental planting with home-grown flowers for the vase, Serena® Blue provides both landscape colour and useful flowering stems.

Why Grow Serena® Blue?

Rich blue-purple flowers • Grown from seed • Pelleted seeds • Long summer flowering • 41–51 cm tall • Upright flower spikes • Full sun • Excellent heat tolerance • Drought tolerant once established • Ideal for containers and flower beds • Suitable for mass planting • Useful as a cut flower • Relatively low maintenance

Angelonia Serena® Blue is an excellent choice for gardeners looking for a long-flowering plant for hot, sunny conditions. Its blue-purple flower spikes provide colour throughout summer, while its compact upright habit makes it equally useful in garden beds, borders and containers.