The Perfect Flower for Potting this Summer

While we prefer to fill the paths of Scarlett’s Garden with perennials, there are certain annuals that we gravitate towards when it comes to potting each season. This summer, we fell in love with the Angelonia, also known as the summer snapdragon. With its soft palate of whites, purples and pinks, we decided to plant the Angelonia in many of our terracotta pots in the garden. These are easy to plant and, when properly cared for, they look like a breath of fresh air in a summer garden.


After planting & caring for the Angelonia this summer, here are our tips:

  • Perfect Pots: Plant in a pot that is 6″ to 8″ deep and has good drainage (good drainage is essential here!). We found the Angelonia to do well in our standard terracotta pots.
  • Pot or Container: The Angelonia gives off beautiful, tall pink or purple blooms (depending on its variety), so it’s a stunning flower on its own, but you can add it to a container with other filler plants. We opted to plant it in pots on its own this summer.
  • Potting Mix: The Angelonia responds well to potting mix that is well-draining and not prone to waterlogging. For example, avoid potting mixes that are heavy in peat moss, since peat moss can easily retain water. We used Miracle-Gro Potting Mix, which worked just fine.
  • Full Sun: Once Planted, place your pot in a place where the Angelonia will get full sun throughout the day.
  • Watering Wisdom: Water plenty and carefully! These annuals like moist soil, but make sure that you don’t have water sitting on top of the pot. This flower won’t respond well to overwatering without proper drainage.
  • Fertilizer: If you want to go the extra mile for these summer blooms, these flowers like to be topped with a thin layer of fertilizer throughout the summer season.
  • Deadheading: Don’t forget to deadhead! Once any blooms have dried up, remember to remove spent blooms individually with a few clips from your garden shears.

After following these steps, our Angelonia flowers have been giving beautiful bicolor violet blooms all June and July (fingers crossed for August too!). We have discovered that these flowers make a beautiful, soft color centerpiece for an outdoor summer dinner, breakfast picnic table or garden table.