Agapanthus campanulatus outdoors

Credit: Peter Warren

Striped blue flowers Agapanthus campanulatus

Credit: Robert Taylor

Narrow leaves Agapanthus campanulatus

Credit: Peter Warren

Agapanthus campanulatus flower

Credit: Peter Warren

Fruit Agapanthus campanulatus

Credit: Peter Warren

Agapanthus campanulatus, the agapanthus with grey-green foliage

It's hard to stand out from the crowd when you belong to the Amaryllidaceae family. But Agapanthus campanulatus has found the solution: narrow foliage and two-tone flowers.

How to recognize Agapanthus campanulatus?

A perennial with a compact habit, Agapanthus campanulatus grows to between 50 centimetres and one metre in height.

The rhizomatous stump gives rise to dense tufts of leaves. The deciduous foliage disappears in winter. For the rest of the year, you can admire the narrow, green leaf blades. They can reach 40 centimetres in length.

In spring and summer, it's the flowering that catches the eye. An umbel of some thirty flowers blooms at the top of a flowering spike almost a metre long. The typical variety has pale-blue bell-shaped flowers streaked with dark blue. But, like agapanthus praecox, Agapanthus campanulatus has spawned numerous horticultural varieties. You can buy cultivars with white, bright blue or dark blue blossoms.

In autumn, the flowers turn into fruit. The dehiscent capsules contain black, winged seeds.

Agapanthus campanulatus is toxic to humans and animals. The sap contained in its leaves and fleshy roots causes skin irritation on contact and digestive problems if swallowed.

Our maintenance tips

Agapanthus campanulatus 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 campanulatus likes freshness. Watering should keep its roots cool and dry. In summer, wait until the soil surface has dried to one centimetre before watering. In winter, let the substrate dry out between watering.

Pournon-calcareous water (rainwater, for example) at room temperature over the soil.

After each watering, empty the stagnant water into the saucer.

Reduce watering during dormancy.

Agapanthus campanulatus 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 campanulatus. 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 campanulatus. 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 campanulatus every month. Use a flowering plant fertilizer to stimulate flowering.

Prune

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

Cut the flower stems flush once the flowers have faded, and remove dead leaves as you go along.
Use a clean, sharp tool to prevent the spread of disease and promote healing.

Plantation

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

Soak your Agapanthus campanulatus. 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 campanulatus. 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.

Rhizomes are underground stems. To access them, you'll need to dig up your plant. Proceed delicately so as not to damage the roots.

Observe the root system to detect the natural demarcation between rhizomes. Once you've identified two distinct roots, gently separate them using your hands.

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 campanulatus 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 campanulatus - Agapanthus campanulatus
Lifecycle	Perennial
Foliage	Deciduous
Exposure	Sun
Substrats	Humus soil Sandy soil
Planting methods	Open ground In pots In tubs
Categories	Rhizome Herbaceous Flowery
Tags	Beginner Flowery Rustic
Origin	South Africa
Hardiness (USDA)	7b
Leaf color
Flower color
Fruit color