Extra Tall Angelonias

Angelonia ‘Angelface Super White’ rises 30–36 inches above the ground

We’ve added two extra tall Angelonias to our program for next spring. While the standard varieties might grow about 18 inches, Angelonia ‘Angelface Super Blue’ and ‘Angelface Super White’ both rise about 30 to 36 inches above the ground. For context, this is the same height we expect from Cleome ‘Senorita Blanca’ or Coleus ‘Wasabi’: waist-high.

These two cultivars not only grow higher but also have thicker stems and a generally bushier habit. Each plant is good for filling a vertical space with a sense of generous color. As a result, we can move that popular Snapdragon look into places where we don’t normally see Angelonia.

Rex Begonia ‘Shadow King Lava Red’

We’ve added two new colors to our line of Shadow King Begonias this spring. ‘Lava Red’ is a vibrant solid red and ‘Rose Frost’ is light green with dark central markings. If you recall, this is the Rex Begonia series with bold and high-contrast colors to the leaves. We like to use Shadow Kings in landscaping beds, either as a massed display or intermixed with taller Caladiums. They also serve as accent points in shade containers or boxes, in the middle filler area of a combo. 

‘Shadow King Rose Frost’

Where shade is the key issue to overcome these plants do particularly well. Dry conditions usually accompany shaded areas because trees are involved—their roots pull out a lot of moisture from the soil, and their leaves divert the rain away from the understory. This means that tree-shade usually requires plants that can handle dry soils. Shadow Kings are rhizomatous, storing water in their stalks, so they carry built-in water tanks they fill during heavy rains.

Another Shadow King feature that we like is their consistent height—they were bred to be consistent. It means that we can mix and match among the different Shadow King colors and get the same overall height regardless of the cultivar.

‘Shadow King Wintergreen’ underneath Caladium ‘White Queen’

A white glow highlights the dark blotch on Pansy ‘Matrix Blue Wing’

As you plan your Pansy orders take a look at Pansy ‘Matrix Blue Wing’. This is a large-flowered, light-blue Pansy with a dark center. You’ll notice that a white glow highlights the blotch, making the face stand out and playing up the Pansy’s signature feature. ‘Blue Wing’ is also a trouper—you can feel it when you touch the petals. They’re thicker than usual, so they bounce back faster from the sometimes soggy weather that appears in early spring.