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Agapanthus africanus (African lily )

Other names: Lily of the Nile, Egyptian lily, Agapanthus minor, Agapanthus umbellatus, Agapanthus africanus minor

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Species
A. africanus is a clump-forming, evergreen perennial with strap-shaped, dark green leaves and umbels of trumpet-shaped, deep blue to purple-blue flowers in summer.
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Season of interest

Flower

Spring Summer Autumn Winter
Flower

Foliage

Spring Summer Autumn Winter
Foliage
Height and spread

Height and spread

Size Max height Max spread To maturity
0.8 m 0.5 m 2-5 years
2 ft 1 ft 2-5 years

Where to grow

Soil type
  • Chalky
  • Clay
  • Loamy
  • Sandy
Soil drainage
  • Moist but well-drained
  • Well-drained
Soil pH
  • Acid
  • Alkaline
  • Neutral
Sunlight
  • Full Sun
Aspect
  • East
  • West
  • South
Exposure
  • Sheltered

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Additional plant details

Cultivation

Best grown in moist but well-drained soil in full sun. Will tolerate drier conditions. Suitable for growing in containers. If container grown, in growth, water regularly and feed monthly. In cold areas, overwinter container-grown plants under cover or indoors.

Suggested uses

Containers/Patio, Architectural, Coastal, Flower Arranging, Beds and borders, Mediterranean, Sub-Tropical, Wallside and trellises

UK hardiness

H4

USDA zones

Zone 8, Zone 9, Zone 10

Sunset zone

6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24

WUCOLS

North-Central Coastal = Moderate/Medium
Central Valley = Moderate/Medium
South Coastal = Moderate/Medium
South Inland = Moderate/Medium
High and Intermediate Desert = Unknown
Low Desert = Unknown

Foliage

Evergreen

Habit

Clump-forming, Erect flower stem

Native to

South Africa

Drought tolerant

No

Flood tolerant

No

Toxicity

Not toxic

Plant care

Pruning

Deadhead or keep seedheads for winter interest.

Propagation methods

Division

Propagation

Divide every 3-4 years in spring.

Pests

Generally pest free.

Diseases

Virus

Divide and replant in spring

Plant container grown plants in a sunny sheltered spot

Protect in winter with dry mulch (in cold areas)

Apply a fertiliser container grown plants regularly

Plant in moist but well-drained soil (spring)

Other plants

Plants in this Genus (196)

Agapanthus

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Agapanthus (any variety)
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Agapanthus (any variety) African lily (any variety)
Agapanthus 'Silver Moon'
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Agapanthus 'Silver Moon' African lily 'Silver Moon'
Agapanthus 'Purple Star'
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Agapanthus 'Purple Star' African lily 'Purple Star'
Agapanthus praecox subsp. orientalis
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Agapanthus praecox subsp. orientalis African blue lily
Agapanthus 'Liam's Lilac'
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Agapanthus 'Liam's Lilac' African lily 'Liam's Lilac'
Agapanthus 'Kew White'
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Agapanthus 'Kew White' African lily 'Kew White'
Agapanthus 'Stardust'
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Agapanthus 'Stardust' African lily 'Stardust'
Agapanthus 'Blue Brush'
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Agapanthus 'Blue Brush' African lily 'Blue Brush'
Agapanthus 'Bluestorm'
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Agapanthus 'Bluestorm' African lily 'Bluestorm'
Agapanthus 'Donau'
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Agapanthus 'Donau' African lily 'Donau'
Agapanthus 'Tom Thumb'
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Agapanthus 'Tom Thumb' African lily 'Tom Thumb'
Agapanthus 'Margaret'
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Agapanthus 'Margaret' African lily 'Margaret'
Agapanthus 'Radiant Star'
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Agapanthus 'Radiant Star' African lily 'Radiant Star'
Agapanthus 'Sarah'
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Agapanthus 'Sarah' African lily 'Sarah'
Agapanthus 'Tornado'
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Agapanthus 'Tornado' African lily 'Tornado'
Agapanthus inapertus 'Midnight Cascade'
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Agapanthus inapertus 'Midnight Cascade' African lily 'Midnight Cascade'
Agapanthus 'Alice Gloucester'
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Agapanthus 'Alice Gloucester' African lily 'Alice Gloucester
Agapanthus 'Ben Hope'
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Agapanthus 'Ben Hope' African lily 'Ben Hope'
Agapanthus 'Blue Moon'
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Agapanthus 'Blue Moon' African lily 'Blue Moon'
Agapanthus 'Castle of Mey'
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Agapanthus 'Castle of Mey' African lily 'Castle of Mey'
Agapanthus 'Cherry Holley'
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Agapanthus 'Cherry Holley' African lily 'Cherry Holley'
Agapanthus 'Dorothy Palmer'
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Agapanthus 'Dorothy Palmer' African lily 'Dorothy Palmer'
Agapanthus 'Golden Rule'
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Agapanthus 'Golden Rule' African lily 'Golden Rule'
Agapanthus 'Midnight Blue'
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Agapanthus 'Midnight Blue' African lily 'Midnight Blue'
Agapanthus 'Snowy Owl'
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Agapanthus 'Snowy Owl' African lily 'Snowy Owl'
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Companion plants (16)

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Hylotelephium 'Seduction La Vie en Rose' (Seduction Series)
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Hylotelephium 'Seduction La Vie en Rose' (Seduction Series) Stonecrop 'Seduction La Vie en Rose'
Hylotelephium 'Seduction Hot Rose Dark Stems'
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Hylotelephium 'Seduction Hot Rose Dark Stems' Stonecrop 'Seduction Hot Rose Dark Stems'
Hylotelephium 'Seduction Chocolate Cherry' (Seduction Series)
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Hylotelephium 'Seduction Chocolate Cherry' (Seduction Series) Stonecrop 'Seduction Chocolate Cherry'
Hylotelephium 'Seduction Green Yellow' (Seduction Series)
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Hylotelephium 'Seduction Green Yellow' (Seduction Series) Stonecrop 'Seduction Green Yellow'
Anemone x hybrida 'Geante des Blanches'
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Anemone x hybrida 'Geante des Blanches' Japanese anemone 'Geante des Blanches'
Hylotelephium 'Green Expectations'
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Hylotelephium 'Green Expectations' Stonecrop 'Green Expectations'
Anemone canadensis
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Anemone canadensis American meadow anemone
Hylotelephium (any variety)
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Hylotelephium (any variety) Stonecrop (any variety)
Anemone x hybrida 'Carmen'
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Anemone x hybrida 'Carmen' Japanese anemone 'Carmen'
Hylotelephium 'Seduction Green Pink' (Seduction Series)
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Hylotelephium 'Seduction Green Pink' (Seduction Series) Stonecrop 'Seduction Green Pink'
Hylotelephium 'Carl'
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Hylotelephium 'Carl' Stonecrop 'Carl'
Hylotelephium 'Abbey Dore'
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Hylotelephium 'Abbey Dore' Stonecrop 'Abbey Dore'
Hylotelephium (Herbstfreude Group) 'Lajos'
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Hylotelephium (Herbstfreude Group) 'Lajos' Stonecrop 'Lajos'
Hylotelephium (Herbstfreude Group) 'Herbstfreude'
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Hylotelephium (Herbstfreude Group) 'Herbstfreude' Stonecrop 'Herbstfreude'
Anemone x hybrida 'Honorine Jobert'
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Anemone x hybrida 'Honorine Jobert' Japanese anemone 'Honorine Jobert'
Hemerocallis 'Pink Damask'
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Hemerocallis 'Pink Damask' Daylily 'Pink Damask'
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Related content

Discuss Agapanthus africanus with other Shoot members

Agapanthus

Marissa Zoppellini
1407 0
Hi Sandy

I wouldn't bother removing them now, I'd wait until the spring and have a tidy up then. All the best, Marissa
Posted: Tuesday 5th of January 2010 03:45 PM Last reply: Tuesday 5th of January 2010 03:45 PM

Agapanthus

Shoot User
1407 1
Thanks Melissa - I wonder if I should be removing the soggy leaves now, or leave them as a bit of protection?
Posted: Sunday 3rd of January 2010 01:34 PM Last reply: Sunday 3rd of January 2010 01:34 PM

Agapanthus

Marissa Zoppellini
1407 1
Hi Sandy, a difficult question to answer! It is recommended that a mulch is applied for winter protection in cold areas, although you say they are sheltered, so hopefully they will make it through. It is too early to give up on them, so I would wait until the garden has thawed out a bit and put a good mulch around them to protect them from further cold during the winter. Hope they make it! All the best, Marissa
Posted: Sunday 3rd of January 2010 12:36 PM Last reply: Sunday 3rd of January 2010 12:36 PM

Have I lost my agapanthus?

Shoot User
1407 1
My agapanthus africanus are planted in pots underground in a sheltered part of the garden. Following the recent frosty weather, they are looking decidedly unhappy. Will they survive, or are they a lost cause?
Posted: Thursday 31st of December 2009 01:11 PM Last reply: Friday 28th of February 2025 09:49 PM
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