Botanical Name: Angelonia angustifolia ‘Archangel™ Dark Purple’

Common Name: Summer Snapdragon

Hardiness Zone: Annual in Most Climates; Perennial in Warm Regions (USDA Zones 9–11)

Size: 24–36" Tall × 16–20" Spread

Growth Habit: Tall, Upright, Strongly Branched Habit

Sunlight: Thrives in Full Sun

Soil: Prefers Well-Drained Soil; Adapts to Average Garden Soils

Water Needs: Moderate; Drought Tolerant Once Established

Bloom Season: Late Spring through Frost

Fertilizer: Light, Regular Feeding During Active Growth

Features: Deep Dark Purple Flower Spikes, Exceptional Heat & Humidity Tolerance, Strong Stems, Clean Foliage

Uses: Ideal for Annual Beds, Mixed Borders, Mass Plantings, Large Containers, and Commercial Landscapes

Patent: ✔ Patented

Propagation: ❌ Propagation Prohibited Without License

See our complete Angelonia Growth & Care Guide for full care details.

More About Angelonia ‘Archangel™ Dark Purple’

Archangel™ Dark Purple is one of those plants that immediately tells you what it’s built for the moment you see it in the garden. It’s a tall, confident, and unapologetically bold Angelonia. The flower spikes are thick, heavily set with deep purple blooms, and they rise well above surrounding plants without leaning or wavering. The color reads darker and more saturated than most purples, especially in full sun, which gives it weight in the landscape. I’ve used it behind lighter annuals and even ornamental grasses, and it consistently holds its own rather than disappearing once everything else fills in. 

As part of the Archangel™ Series means this plant is operating on a different scale altogether. It was bred to grow larger, tougher, and more assertively than standard Angelonia, and that shows up not just in height, but in how it handles stress. That height isn’t delicate either; the stems are stout and muscular, which makes a big difference once summer storms and high winds start rolling through. Heat doesn’t shorten the spikes, humidity doesn’t cause collapse, and heavy rain doesn’t flatten it. While other tall summer annuals can start looking tired or top-heavy by midseason, Archangel™ Dark Purple keeps its posture and keeps blooming. It’s a true backbone plant, not just a seasonal accent.

Why We Like It (Our Trials)

When we trialed the Archangel™ Series, Dark Purple stood out early and never gave us a reason to doubt it. It established fast, pushed strong vertical growth without stretching, and began flowering sooner than expected. What surprised us the most was how little intervention it needed—no staking, pinching, or constant correction were needed to keep it looking right. Once it settled in, it simply did what it was supposed to do. We planted where it took full sun from morning to evening, with reflected heat nearby, and it never lost its composure. The foliage stayed clean, the stems stayed upright, and the color stayed rich even during the most punishing weeks of summer. 

From a design standpoint, this plant is best used when a planting needs presence and backbone. In mass plantings, it establishes a strong vertical rhythm that immediately reads as intentional. In mixed borders, it sits comfortably behind softer, looser textures, adding depth without overwhelming what’s in front of it. And in oversized containers, it behaves almost like a seasonal shrub—grounding the entire composition and giving everything else something to lean into visually.

I’ve paired Archangel™ Dark Purple with crisp whites, silvery foliage, chartreuse accents, and even hot pinks, and it never feels out of place or overpowered. If you’re looking for an Angelonia that functions as a structural element rather than a filler, this one earns its keep. It’s the kind of plant that looks purposeful from across the garden and still holds up when you’re standing right next to it in August heat—which is exactly why it continues to earn a spot in our plantings.

Archangel™ Dark Purple vs Other Angelonia

Unlike Archangel™ White, which reads brighter and lighter in the landscape and is often used to lift or soften a planting, Dark Purple brings weight and depth with a much more commanding presence. While both share the same upright structure and heat-tough performance, Dark Purple feels bolder and more dramatic, making it better suited for anchoring larger beds and mass plantings.

Compared to AngelFlare™ Black, Archangel™ Dark Purple delivers similar depth of color but on a larger, more substantial plant. Dark Purple sits right in that sweet spot—it brings the depth and drama of AngelFlare™ Black, but with more mass and authority. It grows fuller and heavier, while remaining more controlled than the towering Alonia™ Big Snow. For gardeners who want bold color paired with serious garden presence, Archangel™ Dark Purple stands apart from the rest.