Snapdragons / Angelonia for spring, summer, respectively?

Over breakfast this morning I read our local paper the Austin American-Statesman and found an interesting article entitled "Snapdragons add pizzazz to any garden, even in summer" in which they include my favorite of the last few years -- angelonia (Angelonia angustifolia) , which they call a " south-of-the-border native plant known as summer snapdragon" and call the snapdragon its "Mediterranean cousin."

The article says (which we South or Central Texans know) that snapdragons can't last in our heat, usually stopping their blooms in mid-April. So the article suggests then planting angelonia which lasts until October, and then it's time to plant (or they come up from self-sowing) the "cool-weather relative! What a wonderful full-year circle of gorgeous blooms!

I have enjoyed both for several years, but didn't realize they are "related" (correct me if I'm wrong--I'm a rather new gardener of the last 5 years!)

Are any of you lovers of these two cousins like I am? Any suggestions for growing "bigger/better" ones, etc.?

I am! I gave up on snaps a few years ago because they usually don't last past June around here. Butm last summer I planted some for my parents, which made it through the summer and now are getting ready to bloom. I think I will have to try them again this year at my own house

As for angellonia, last year the price had gone up quite a bit. So I brought in two big pots to overwinter, and also took cuttings. All have done fine in my kitchen.

PBX...how do you do your cuttings for the angelonia? Just cut off below an axis and put in potting soil?

Thank you both for the information on Angellonia. I love snapdragons. It would be nice to have a relative blooming through the summer.

PBX, more info on Angellonia cuttings, please!

Connie, its one of the easiest plants to root--just keep in shade until it starts growing. Strip off lower leaves and keep soil moist. I think its the easiest plant to root and I hat to root things, I'd much rather do seeds! You can also "saw" large plants from the garden center into 2-3 plants when out of a gallon pot. Very tough and resilient plant.
=)

Thanks, DMJ!!

Yes, I think you can divide them very easily. I took my cuttings in mid-November, so I didn't leave them outside. I just put them in a potting soil/vermiculite mixture, and they rooted right up. Some had little water bottles on top (greenhouse), but that wasn't really necessary. For now they're content just in a sunny window. They do like to be kept moist.

I didn't try it, but they're so easy, they might even root in water.

I bought my first Angellonia last year. When they bloomed out and starter looking ratty I sheared it off to about six inches. I just stuck the whole bundle of cutting in a pot of soil in one big clump, watered it and set them in the shade. No special care at all and they all took root. The main plant that I sheared grew back bushier and rebloomed.

Yes to the Angelonia... I haven't done cuttings but love them. With a periodic trim and watering, they pleased me throughout the summer and into fall. I should have practiced cuttings on these I guess.

AJ,....Wow...what a story about easy rooting! I haven't dont ANY yet, but DH and I are near retirement and I need to quit thing "Disposable" (both income and tender perreniels) and start being frugal!!

Podster: What a gorgeous "prize-winning" picture with the weathered chair (?) in the background!!! Love it!

Thanks Connie ~ if you look close, the Angelonia is actually sitting in a (ugh) white pot. The seat of the chair was gone so I put slats on the cross braces and plopped the "pot of the week" in it. This one was pretty.

Incidentally, my pots of Angelonia are sitting in the plant shelter. The growth died down as the shelter isn't heated and we had a few cold nights. I looked at them this morning and they are putting on new growth from the roots. I suspect I will have some volunteer seeds too.