Angelonia (Summer Snapdragon) in Zone 9a & 9b

Angelonia angustifolia

Yes, angelonia (summer snapdragon) grows in zones 9a and 9b. Start seeds indoors Dec 28–Jan 4 and plant out Mar 1–Mar 8.

When to plant angelonia (summer snapdragon) in zone 9b

Zones 9a and 9b share the same average frost dates, so this page covers both.

Method: Start indoors: Start indoors from seed, then transplant outside. It needs a head start most zones can't give it by direct-sowing alone.

Start indoorsDec 28–Jan 4
Direct sow / transplant outsideMar 1–Mar 8
Estimated bloomJun 7–Jun 14 (~98 days after transplanting)

Spacing: 2 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 1-2 ft.

Plant alongside it in zone 9b

These go outside within two weeks of angelonia (summer snapdragon) in zone 9b, so one planting day can cover them.

Angelonia (Summer Snapdragon)
Photo: Krzysztof Golik via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped.

Angelonia (summer snapdragon) is a tender perennial in zones 9b-11, but almost everywhere else it's grown as a heat-loving annual, and it's specifically called out by Growing In The Garden as a strong choice for low-desert summer heat. Upright 1- to 2-foot stems carry small spurred spikes of orchid-like blooms in purple, white, or pink.

How angelonia (summer snapdragon) fits zone 9's season

Zone 9b's frost-free window runs about 293 days, from February 15 to December 5. Angelonia (summer snapdragon) needs about 98 days from transplant to first bloom.

Angelonia (Summer Snapdragon) planting windows in every zone

Zone 9b is highlighted. Useful for comparing against a neighbouring zone, or for a garden somewhere else.

ZoneStart indoorsSow or plant outBloom
2a & 2bApr 1–Apr 8Jun 3–Jun 10Sep 9–Sep 16
3a & 3bApr 11–Apr 18Jun 13–Jun 20Sep 19–Sep 26
4a & 4bMar 27–Apr 3May 29–Jun 5Sep 4–Sep 11
5a & 5bMar 22–Mar 29May 24–May 31Aug 30–Sep 6
6a & 6bMar 7–Mar 14May 9–May 16Aug 15–Aug 22
7a & 7bFeb 20–Feb 27Apr 24–May 1Jul 31–Aug 7
8a & 8bFeb 4–Feb 11Apr 8–Apr 15Jul 15–Jul 22
9a & 9b (your zone)Dec 28–Jan 4Mar 1–Mar 8Jun 7–Jun 14
10a & 10bSpring windowJan–MayMar–Jul~98 days after transplanting
11a & 11bNov 13–Nov 20Jan 15–Jan 22Apr 23–Apr 30

Bloom dates are about 98 days after the sow or plant-out date, not after starting seeds indoors.

Zone 2 sows before zone 3 here, which looks wrong and is not. USDA zones rank winter cold, not season length, and zone 2 is mostly interior Alaska, where hard winters come with warm summers. More on what a zone measures.

Good companions

No well-established companions for angelonia (summer snapdragon).

Where to buy angelonia seeds

True Leaf Market (each supplier's angelonia seeds)

Varieties we recommend, and where to get them:

See why we recommend these suppliers →

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See it growing

Search YouTube for "growing angelonia (summer snapdragon)" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)

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Growing Angelonia (Summer Snapdragon) in USDA zone 9b

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Growing Angelonia (Summer Snapdragon) in USDA zone 9b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a bloom.

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