Growing Agapanthus: Tips at a Glance
Flowering in summer with showy globes of blue, purple, pink, or white, hardy perennial Agapanthus is native to warm climates in Africa (which explains one common nickname: African lily).
- Type Flowering rhizome
- Lifespan Perennial
- USDA Zones 6 to 10
- Light Sun or partial shade
- Water Regular
- Soil Well-draining
- Design Tip Container plant
- Companions Lavender, Russian sage
- Peak Season Summer
Agapanthus: A Field Guide
What comes to mind when hearing the word “agapanthus” is probably big blue or purple lollipop flowers that resemble deconstructed alliums. But this useful flowering perennial also has cultivars in shades of pink and white and in heights that range from 18 inches to 5 feet.
There are so many uses for Agapanthus in a garden. In a warm climate—Agapanthus is native to South Africa—it is a hardy plant that can be expected to return year after year. Plant clumps of it in drifts alongside a path, or in containers (to contain its urge to spread by rhizomes). Or, like South African garden designer Franchesca Watson, choose a shade of flower to match the facade of your house and use Agapanthus as complementary foundation screening. She planted drifts of snowy Agapanthus next to her own house, which is painted the same shade of white.
“Agapanthus is typically pest and disease-resistant (except for notorious snails, which can simply be removed by hand). Out of bloom, Agapanthus has leaves that look like glossy green ribbons which form clumps,” writes our contributor Kier Holmes. See more growing tips in Gardening 101: Agapanthus.
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