Planting DesignDiscover the right plants for your garden.
' Little Galaxy ' agapanthus . photograph by : Proven Winners .
Agapanthus , a pop perennial that grows from a medulla oblongata - like rootstalk , is a tough subsister in the font of continuing drought . Their strappy evergreen or semi - evergreen folio provide winter comportment while blue or clean flowers add a rush of mid to late summer colour .
TheAgapanthusgenus dwell of seven specie that go by the usual name lily of the Nile ( or sometimes African lily ) . aboriginal to dry outcrop or moist good deal meadows of South Africa , they prefer full sun and drain soil .
On this page : Basics|Planting|Care|Pictures|Design idea
On this page :
BASICS
Botanical name:
Agapanthusspp .
Common name:
Lily of the nile , African lily
Zones:
6 - 11
Exposure:
Full sun
Soil:
Well - debilitate
Bloom time:
Mid - summer to early fall
Flower color:
Blue , violet , white
Foliage:
Evergreen , semi - evergreen , or deciduous . The evergreen plant types are tippy in temperature below 20 ° F , but the deciduous types are surprisingly sturdy .
Height:
The blossom stem of a standardAgapanthuscan acquire up to 6 groundwork tall , but dwarf types only turn up to 20 inch .
Are agapanthus plants deer resistant?
Most gardeners report that their agapanthus plant are rarely eaten .
Is agapanthus poisonous?
Agapanthusplants are n’t true lily , and do n’t share their high floor of toxicity . However , consumption of the rhizome and roots can cause minor illness that can intensify depend on the amount have . The cosh from the leaves can cause skin discomfort .
PLANTING AGAPANTHUS
When to plant:
Plant agapanthus bulb once dirt temps have warmed to 50 grade F , and all danger of freeze has guide .
Where to plant:
Plant in a site that get full sunlight ( 6 - 8 hours a daytime ) . However , in blistering clime , they may do better with some afternoon spectre .
How to plant:
Place bulbs with the pointed end up , two inches deep , 12 to 18 inches apart , and cut across with land . Protect the root zone with mulch in cold climate .
AGAPANTHUS CARE
Agapanthus‘Blue Wave ’ , show here , is good in full sun and drain soil . It requires minimal lacrimation . Do n’t mulch ; do apply an organic fertiliser blend once every year in tardy wintertime . exposure by : Dan Hinkley .
Water:
leave supplementary moisture during the establishment flow . Many also value unconstipated body of water during the growing season .
Fertilizer:
Apply a well - balanced fertiliser as growth starts in spring . Add a salad days - advance fertiliser ( higher atomic number 15 and K ) in August or September when flower buds start to get below ground .
Pruning:
Cutting agapanthus back is a matter of personal preference . Some gardeners call up the dry out flower heads are attractive and provide much requisite winter interest . Other gardener prefer to cut the spend flowers off , a process called deadheading , as soon as they are past their blossom . Doing so prevents plants from pine away energy on seeded player production and rather allow them to put in up energy for next year ’s bloom .
Division:
unconstipated variance does not seem to be essential to carrying out . However , if you wish to divide them for propagation purposes , because they ’ve outgrown their bed or green goddess , or if they are n’t flower well , here are some guidepost :
Overwintering:
Evergreen assortment are more suitable to zona 8 - 11 , but may still involve some winter security from freezing temperatures , which can strike occasionally even in Zone 9 . If temps remain below 55 degrees F , insulate the root expanse with a 2- to 3- inch layer of mulch , or tent the industrial plant with amini greenhouse .
For zone 6 or 7 , industrial plant can be dug up and winter in pots indoors near a cheery window or under grow lights . Transplant back into the garden once temperature warm up in the spring .
Caring for Potted Agapanthus:
accord to renowned plant hunter and gardener Dan Hinkley , “ Agapanthus make brilliant , low - upkeep , and exceedingly long - lasting container plant . ” Here are his summit :
POPULAR AGAPANTHUS VARIETIES
photograph by : Proven Winners
Little Galaxy — Buy now from Proven WinnersAgapanthushybrid
Zones:6 - 10
This agapanthus has a much good cold tolerance , being hardy down to Zone 6 . The light , compact drug abuse of this selection make it perfect for container or low gardens .
photograph by : Garden World Images Ltd / Alamy Stock Photo .
‘ Peter Pan’Agapanthus africanus
Zones:8 - 11
This dwarf agapanthus has little clumps of evergreen plant foliage with deep blue flower clusters that reach up to 18 inches in height . It is a tidy plant that can be used near swimming pools . ‘ Tinkerbell ’ is another gnome option featuring vary foliage .
Courtesy of Plant Delights Nursery , Inc.
‘ tempest Cloud’Agapanthus’Storm Cloud '
Zones:7 - 10
‘ Storm Cloud ’ is the disconsolate of the robust , semi - evergreen specie . “ It ’s a vigorous and heavily flowering manikin , creating a coil of abstruse - blue thunder on sturdy stem to 3.5 infantry , ” explains Hinkley . ‘ violent storm Cloud ’ , however , possess more substance in name and flower than it does in oecumenical hardiness . It should be deflect in gardens suffering harsh wintertime temperature ; 20 degree Fahrenheit is enough to spoil the following year ’s floral display if it does n’t kill it in a flash .
Photo by : Dan Hinkley .
‘ Graskop’Agapanthus inapertus
illustrious flora hunter Dan Hinkley identify ‘ Graskop ’ as “ the most seductiveAgapanthusI’ve brought to prime , look from a space to be closely as black asIris chrysographes . ” It features sturdy scapes that may rise to an astounding 5 infantry , capped by umbel of nod cannular flush in deep gloomy - violet tones . It is completely deciduous and fearless than most realize .
Photo by : Andrea Jones Images / Alamy Stock Photo .
Queen MumAgapanthus praecoxssp.orientalis
Queen Mum ™ was breed in Australia , and for Hinkley , is the gilded standard of the genus . “ It is of exceptional form and the one to which all others should be measured , ” he says . Enormous head of large white flowers changeover to deep blue at the base atop sturdy stems to 3 metrical foot . Best planted in container in Zone 7 and below .
Photo by : Jacqueline Chong / Millette Photomedia .
‘ Blue Yonder’Agapanthus‘Blue Yonder ’
Zones:5 - 10
‘ Blue Yonder ’ sports pillage atomic number 27 - profane flowers on flush spikes 3 feet grandiloquent . It is deciduous in nature and exceedingly cold hardy , although it does appreciate a heavy winter mulching to protect it from freezing temperatures . Attracts bee , butterfly stroke and birds .
Photo by : visi88136 © Visions BV , Netherlands / VisionsPictures & Photography .
‘ Gold Strike’Agapanthus‘Gold Strike ’
‘ Gold Strike ’ is a variegated Agapanthus with frisky , broad yellow - margined foliation and a satisfying display of counterpoint , mid - sorry bloom . “ I use it to good gist , I call back , in a container , unwilling to sacrifice a class to my climate to essay ecumenical hardiness , ” says Hinkley .
Photo by : Tom McGinty / Shutterstock .
Blue Storm ™ Agapanthus praecox orientalis
Blue Storm ™ is a small agapanthus that is first-class in containers and as butt on . Its leaves are evergreen and it romp an abundance of sky - blue flowers for up to 10 weeks .
Photo by : DTraves / Shutterstock .
‘ Albus’Agapanthus africanus‘Albus ’
The showy , evergreen leaf of ‘ Albus ’ are attractive on their own , but the real show takes home when the heyday stalking shoot up and the white , horn - shaped flowers open in succession like pyrotechnic . A good option for seaside garden as it tolerate coastal shape well . Will reach a mature sizing of 2 to 3 feet gamey and wide .
pic by : Ksenia Tauroa | Dreamstime .
‘ Loch Hope’Agapanthus‘Loch Hope ’
achiever of the Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society , ‘ Loch Hope ’ has deep gentle flowers and deciduous , gray - green leaves . It is one of the later agapanthus sort to flower .
Other cultivars to try :
DESIGN IDEAS
Agapanthusis a versatile plant that can be used in many ways . Here are some suggestion from Hinkley :
Warning:
Do n’t imbed other bulb too closelipped toAgapanthus — they will be catch by the amplify origin .
Portions of this article were adapt from a part in the beginning written by Dan Hinkley for Garden Design cartridge clip .
