Agapanthus (pronounced ag-ah-PAN-thus) or Lily of The Nile makes me think of Allium, but the leaves are more substantial and the bloom appears more robust. Given a choice between the two, I would choose exotic-looking Agapanthus. I attempted to grow this plant many times in the past. My plants would last a year or two, and then would dwindle away or even die outright during a cold, wet winter. New cultivars are on the market now, with enhanced cold tolerance, so I am trying again. Some varieties are evergreen while others are deciduous. Check the label to know what you are buying.
Agapanthus is a fleshy rhizome that hails from South Africa. Another common name is African Lily. It prefers at least a half-day or sun or more. The labels indicate cold hardiness from zone 8 through 11. If you live in a cooler area, you can grow Agapanthus in containers and bring them indoors when winter arrives. Be careful to avoid overwatering in winter.
Most Agapanthus flowers are in shades of blue, but purple and white forms are available also. Individual leaves grow to three inches wide and 12 to 24 inches in length. Dwarf forms are available. The flowers are umbrels, clusters of individual flowers that appear as a single flower atop a sturdy stem. Each small flower has six petals; most have a darker stripe down the center of each petal. A fully opened flower is approximately the size of a tennis ball. This year, I paired a white cultivar with blue flushes (‘Indigo Frost’) with a white-flowered Mandevilla vine in a container with an added trellis. I have high hopes for this combination. The Mandevilla has not started to climb its trellis yet, but I think it will be an ideal paring. Ultimately, the Mandevilla vine will serve as a windbreak and a visual backdrop for the Agapanthus flowers.
Agapanthus likes a well-drained, moist soil of neutral pH. It will not tolerate constantly wet soil. For best flowering, fertilize in early spring and again after flowering concludes.
Be patient with Agapanthus. It takes a year or two for it to reach its full potential. Rhizomes will enlarge and plants will spread over time. The seeds of spent flowers can be harvested and will germinate but it takes several years for seed-grown specimens to begin flowering. Propagation by division is a faster method. Plants bloom best when rootbound, so don’t be quick to separate. Use care when dividing ground-grown plants, as the thick feeder roots spread widely and shallowly. It is best to divide congested plants in autumn rather than spring.
Agapanthus leaves are toxic if eaten and the sap can cause skin irritation. This does not impact hummingbirds and other pollinators, who love visiting the blooms, but it deters nibbling from deer.
This newly planted pairing will be beautiful once the white-flower Mandevilla starts to cover the trellis.
