Adessa angelonia is a new series of summer snapdragons developed in Israel. They produce 20-inch tall spikes of flowers all summer.

Spring has arrived, and I have been smitten by a new angelonia series called Adessa from innovative Israel-based company Jaldety. The fact that it even slugged its way through the competition to arrive in our marketplace is a glowing testimony to its beauty and durability. In the United States we now have countless angelonia varieties to choose from, almost making your head swirl.

If you haven’t tried angelonias yet, then you will be shocked at what you have been missing. They are known botanically as Angelonia angustifolia and offer up snapdragon-like blossoms all summer. In fact the name "summer snapdragon" has really caught on in the gardening world. If you are wondering how we can have snapdragon flowers all summer, it is because these are from Mexico and the West Indies.

In the Adessa series you will find a rich purple, blue-and-white bi-color, white and pink. They are upright, reaching 20 inches in height, and offer a much-needed spiky look in the landscape. I believe angelonias are among the top 10 flowers to be introduced in the last 25 years.

Though they are not as tall as the larkspur or Victoria blue salvia, Adessa angelonia exude a sense of belonging in a cottage-like garden. Remember: When you add spiky blooms is when you create the real excitement in the garden. You could also use them in a tropical cottage, like one you might see on the island of Saba or St. Barts.

At the Columbus Botanical Garden in Columbus, Ga., we are using Adessa purple in a complementary color scheme with large yellow African marigolds. They would also look super paired with New Gold lantana or planted in drifts adjacent to Tiger Eye gloriosa daisies. The white and pink varieties look awesome planted as companions with purple coneflowers such as PowWow Wildberry.

They perform best in full sun and planted in fertile organic-rich beds that offer great drainage. They will be perennial in zones nine to 10 but a much loved annual elsewhere. I know you will agree it is hard to believe a plant in the snapdragon family relishes our summer heat and humidity.

Once established in the bed, angelonias seem to have remarkable drought tolerance. This is particularly true in organic-rich beds in which a layer of mulch has been added. Pay attention, though, because if we should go through a prolonged dry spell, supplemental irrigation would be necessary. Please do not stick this stunning plant in tight, compacted clay soil.

A light monthly application of a 2-1-2-ratio fertilizer, such as a 10-5-10 with minor nutrients, is all this plant needs to keep blooming. The bloom period is really long, and when it does want to cycle, it responds well to trimming back with a pair of pruning shears.

In addition to the new Adessa, also look for the award-winning Serena series and the new Serenita, which are slightly smaller at just 14 inches in height. If you don’t see Adessa when spring arrives, don’t fret. Just make sure this is the year you try angelonias in your landscape and know you are getting a tough-as-nails summer performer.

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