Flowering umbel Agapanthus africanus

Credit: Mauro Halpern

Blue flowers Agapanthus Afriacnus

Credit: Candiru

Agapanthus africanus leaf clump

Credit: JoJan

White flowers Agapanthus africanus

Credit: Agnes Trekker

Agapanthus africanus flowers

Credit: Eran Finkle

Agapanthus africanus, blue agapanthus

Wrongly nicknamed the Nile Lily, Agapanthus africanus has never put down roots in Egypt. This plant of the Amaryllidaceae family comes to us from the Cape Province in South Africa.

How to recognize blue agapanthus, Agapanthus africanus?

Agapanthus africanus is a perennial with a bushy, spreading habit. It reaches a metre in height during the flowering period and spreads over 60 centimetres.

Between September and May, blue agapanthus forms a tuft of green leaves. Its thick, lanceolate blades are 30 centimetres long and barely two centimetres wide. Foliage is evergreen to semi-evergreen. In its natural habitat, it thrives all year round. But in regions with harsher winters, it disappears as the weather cools, only to reappear in spring.

Blue agapanthus blooms between June and September. A green, rigid flowering spike emerges from the foliage. The stem is crowned by an umbel about 30 centimetres in diameter. It shelters around fifty flowers. Blue in the botanical variety, the bloom can be white, mauve or violet in the horticultural varieties. The six-lobed flowers are trumpet-shaped. This shape distinguishes Agapanthus africanus from agapanthus inapertus, whose flowers are tubular and drooping.

At the end of summer, the flowers give way to loculated capsules. These contain hundreds of black seeds.

Whether blue, white or pink, Agapanthus africanus is a plant with a toxic sap. It causes skin irritation and digestive problems. Keep your pets away from your agapanthus and wear gloves when handling it.

Our maintenance tips

Agapanthus africanus can have deciduous or semi-evergreen foliage. If you live in a region where it freezes, prefer the former. They are hardier and equally resistant to sea spray and drought.

Watering

Water your plant generously during the growing season.

Agapanthus africanus like to keep roots cool. Water when the substrate surface is dry (about one centimetre) with water at room temperature. Preferably use non-calcareous water, such as rainwater.

After watering, don 't let the water stagnate in the dish or pot, as it may rot the roots.

Reduce watering during dormancy.

Agapanthus africanus live in desert regions. They tolerate drought, but dread excess water. The substrate must remain completely dry for a few days between waterings.

When watering, use water at room temperature to avoid stressing the plant.

Roots run deep. You therefore need to moisten the entire root ball. Pour in water until the excess runs out through the drainage hole. Stop watering and empty any water that accumulates in the saucer or planter. It may rot the roots.

Repotting

Soak your Agapanthus africanus. Choose a pierced pot that is taller than it is wide. Its diameter should be slightly larger than the root ball, but its depth should be greater to allow the root system to develop.

Fill the bottom of the pot with a rich, draining substrate, such as potting soil for Mediterranean plants. Plant your Agapanthus africanus. The rootball should be a few centimetres below the rim of the pot. Add potting soil to reach the height of the root ball.

Water generously to encourage rooting and remove air bubbles. Mulch withmineral or vegetable matter to keep the soil cool.

Fertilization

You can stimulate the growth of your plant during its growth phase, in spring and summer, with fertilizer.

Fertilize your Agapanthus africanus every month. Use a flowering plant fertilizer to stimulate flowering.

Prune

To encourage the growth of your Agapanthus africanus, prune regularly.

Remove dried leaves.

Cut back flower stems when flowers have wilted. If you use a tool, make sure it's clean and sharp.

Plantation

Once the last spring frosts have passed, you can plant.

Soak your Agapanthus africanus. Dig a planting hole at least 30 centimetres deep. Remove stones and weeds. If you're planting several specimens, space them 50 centimetres apart.

Plant your Agapanthus africanus. The rootball should be level with the ground. Fill in with garden soil. You can add compost if your soil is poor, or sand if it's heavy. Water copiously to eliminate air bubbles and aid recovery.

You can also mulch the base witha mineral material (slate, gravel, pebbles) or plant material (leaves, hemp, wood shavings) to keep the soil fresh. This will also prevent the appearance of weeds!

Cutting

Cutting is carried out during the strong growth phase, generally in spring and early summer.

Carefully dig up the plant. Observe its root system and locate the individual plants. Separate them, always keeping a stem with its leaves and roots.

Division can be done by hand. But if the roots are too tangled, you can cut them with a clean, sharp tool.

Obtain a drilled pot. Its diameter should correspond to the size of the cutting, but it should be deep (around 30 centimetres) so that the roots can develop.

Fill it with a rich, well-draining substrate, such as potting soil for Mediterranean plants.

Place your agapanthus africanus in the center. Add potting soil and tamp gently. Water to encourage rooting and remove air bubbles.

You can use plant or mineral mulch to keep the soil cool and limit watering.

Disease / Threat

Slugs

Information

Family	Amaryllidaceae - Amaryllidaceae
Type	Agapanthus - Agapanthus
Species	Agapanthus africanus - Agapanthus africanus
Lifecycle	Perennial
Foliage	Semi-evergreen
Exposure	Sun
Substrats	Humus soil Sandy soil
Planting methods	Open ground In pots In tubs
Categories	Bulb Herbaceous Flowery
Tags	Beginner Flowery Toxic
Origin	South Africa
Hardiness (USDA)	9a
Leaf color
Flower colors
Fruit color