CyberSalad: Garden Pursuits: Bulbs: Agapanthus

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Agapanthus

     Natives of South Africa--not the Nile as one common name suggests--agapanthuses grow from thick fleshy roots that send up mounds of straplike leaves. Their leafless flower stalks bear clusters of 1- to 4-inch blue or white flowers through much of the summer. A. africanus, an evergreen species, and A. campanulatus, which is deciduous, grow 18 to 24 inches tall and produce 12 to 30 flowers in a cluster. A. praecox orientalis may become 5 feet tall and produce clusters of 100 or more flowers. Excellent garden flowers in mild climates, agapanthuses can be grown anywhere in tubs or as house plants and are long lasting as cut flowers.
     Evergreen agapanthuses can be grown outdoors without winter protection in Zones 9-10; the foliage may be damaged if the temperature drops below 25 degrees F but the plants will recover. The deciduous species will survive as far north as Zone 7, but must be given winter protection in Zones 7 and 8. Agapanthuses do best in gardens in full sun, but will tolerate light shade; in very hot climates light shade is desirable. Plant them at any time, spacing them about 24 inches apart and setting them so that the tops of the roots are just below the surface of the soil. During the spring and summer growing season apply light feedings of any garden fertilizer every month or two; during the rest of the year no food should be given.
     Because they blossom more freely when crowded and since their roots should be disturbed as little as possible, agapanthuses are grown in containers even in mild climates. Use wooden tubs--the burgeoning roots can burst clay pots. Pot in 1 part packaged potting soil, 1 part coarse peat moss, and 1 part sharp sand or perlite with ground limestone added at a rate of 3 to 5 ounces per bushel. During the growing season, give the plants plenty of moisture and feed every month or two with a standard house-plant fertilizer; during the rest of the year keep the mix on the dry side and withhold fertilizer. In cold climates, bring the plants indoors before the first fall frost. Propagate by dividing the fleshy roots of the evergreen species in spring, the deciduous plants in fall.

	'Headbourne Hybrids' produces stems of dense, rounded umbels of 15 or more blue flowers in summer. Zones 7-8. Height: 36 inches.
	'Pinocchio' Small blue flower clusters. Zones 7-8. Height: 24 inches.

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Site launched January 1, 2000.
Site updated September 1, 2007.