Agapanthus ("Lily of the Nile") is a genus of
flower plants with six to ten species depending on how the different species
are classified. They are all herbaceous perennial plants native to South
Africa. They have been placed either in the family Alliaceae, or separated
into their own monogeneric family Agapanthaceae (e.g. Indices Nominum Supragenericorum
Plantarum Vascularium).
Members of the genus have funnel-shaped flowers, in varying shades of blue
colors with white flowering forms occurring. The species have been hybridized
to produce additional colors in plants under cultivation. The flowers are
produced in many-flowered cymes on long, erect stems called scapes, which
can grow up 1 m long. The basal leaves are curved, lanceolate, and are up
to 60 cm long.
Species
Zonneveld & Duncan (2003) classified Agapanthus into six species
(A. africanus, A. campanulatus, A. caulescens, A. coddii, A. inapertus,
A. praecox). Four additional taxa recognised by Leighton (1965) as species
(A. comptonii, A. dyeri, A. nutans, A. walshii) are given status below
species rank by Zonneveld & Duncan.
Agapanthus africanus (syn. A. umbellatus; African Lily or African Tulip)
Agapanthus campanulatus (African bluebell, African Blue lily or Bell Agapanthus)
Agapanthus caulescens
Agapanthus coddii (Codd's Agapanthus or Blue Lily)
Agapanthus comptonii
Agapanthus dyeri
Agapanthus inapertus (Drakensberg Agapanthus or Drooping Agapanthus)
Agapanthus nutans
Agapanthus praecox
Agapanthus walshii
Cultivation and uses
Agapanthus africanus can be grown within USDA plant hardiness zones 9
to 11. In lower-numbered zones, the bulbs should be placed deeper in the
soil and mulched well in the fall. Agapanthus can be propagated by dividing
the bulbs or by seeds, the seeds of most varieties are fertile.
Several hundred cultivars and hybrids are cultivated as garden and landscape
plants. Several are winter-hardy to USDA Zone 7.
How to grow:
Full sun and well-drained, rich soil are needed for agapanthus. It can
be grown in large pots and planters. Make every effort not to disturb
the roots. In northern gardens, bring in the pots at the end of summer,
and grow the plants in a greenhouse or bright sunroom; or trim back any
stalks and foliage, and keep them indoors in a dormant state until it
is time for the pots to go back outdoors in spring, after the danger of
frost ends.
Scientific name: Agapanthus africanus
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