Angelonia, perhaps.

Yes, also comes in white, pink, and a light purple.

Thanks for the quick replies. I searched a bit on the Internet, and am completely head over heels with this plant--all colors. Wish it were a perennial! Nevertheless, it will have space in my novice garden next year. Thanks again!!

It is a perennial, but only hardy from Z9+. In cooler zones, they're with the annuals, shouldn't be hard to find. It really does keep blooming all summer, even more profusely if occasionally deadheaded, and really loves hot weather.

That's completely gorgeous!

A plant is either an annual or perennial, no matter where it is taken. Cultivars would have the same hardiness limits, also listed here as hardy from Z9.

http://www.whiteflowerfarm.com/70264-product.html

So cool to hear about overwintered cuttings. I will definitely do that next time I have some of these. Hopefully that one! TYVM, Countrygirl. :+)

Thanks for the tip about them being easy to root, countrygirl. I have a love/(partially unearned) meh relationship with these plants. I would probably soil root them, but would not have thought to bother trying normally. Would prefer to not having to fork over $ for new plants, and in SoCal they could go straight into the garden and overwinter there.

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Tempest, that group of angelonia is beautiful. The dark purple seems to be the color I search for in the nurseries.

This is one of my all time favorite plants. I hope y'all don't mind if I rave a few minutes!

Angelonia thrives in the blazing heat and sun in my western facing front beds....in northern Alabama's clay soil. It blooms all season long, until a hard frost takes them out.

They are quite drought tolerant once established...I don't have irrigation and rarely haul the hose out. No deadheading, no pest or disease issues, and no fading out in the heat.

I have Angelonia planted both in the ground and in containers. Plan on giving it at least 12 inches from stem to stem....they are very robust and fast growing plants.

Bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds all like mine.

one year I lost mine and the only place I could find it was White Flower Farm. I don't know why they don't sell them locally anymore. I got my first one here in Greenville, SC. After buying a set of three from WFF, I vowed never to have to buy another. It usually gets about three ft tall and is as big around. I love it. It goes with anything. I will usually have it in the ground and in a couple of containers.

No to hijack the thread, but, I have a question about the plant for those familiar with its growth habits.... Does it have issues with powder mildew? I'm thinking about adding it to my front yard garden here in NYC where our summers can see humidity to rival levels in any southern state and heat to match, too. Thanks in advance to anyone who takes the time to answer =)

I have never had any issues with any type of disease.

Thank you countrygirl =) Appreciate the response. Especially since I travel a LOT and I don't want to put anything that's going to be high maintenance in my front yard when someone else will be caring for it and don't wanna have to leave special watering instructions to keep the plants mildew free.

Thanks again!!

Countrygirl...that's a lovely purple striped flower.

I never found this plant anywhere I shop. I am such a novice gradner that I rarely go beyond big box store for plants (plus for their 1 year guarantee. I need it! but so far was never diligent enough to take my dead plants back).

Tiffany--with my black thumb, hardy perennials end up as 'annuals' lol :)

rhizo--I am going to take on your container idea!

falcon--dark purple is so far my favorite too! I am specifically going to look for that.

Thanks to all for chiming in with precious information and questions. I am soaking it all up!

fizzgig777, I'm not too far from you, and haven't seen a problem with PM on angelonia. Seconding rhizo's comment about it not needing deadheading - it's such a pretty, low maintenance plant. Hmm, maybe I should go out and get some ....

Thanks eaga! Putting the plant on my "to acquire" list for next year =)

this is my last batch of cuttings. I put them in water Sunday. You can see where I removed the bottom leaves. I usually remove the buds and blooms.

Close up, they have started rooting already, even quicker than some coleus I started the same day:

Hey, that's fast! TY again!