How to Plant, Grow, and Care for Agapanthus

A gorgeous perennial with a lovely leaf construction and season-long curiosity, agapanthus is a kind of vegetation that may actually take a look at a gardener’s identification expertise. Occur upon some on a stroll by your neighbor’s yard or a go to to your native botanical backyard, and it might take you a beat to precisely give you the genus. 

Overview

Botanical Identify Agapanthus Native Space Southern Africa	Watering Necessities Average	Pests Mealybugs, spider mites, snails and slugs Ailments Root rot, grey mildew, powdery mildew

What’s Agapanthus?

With lengthy, strappy leaves, agapanthus resembles an iris (or a daylily or a decorative grass). The flowers have a dome or globe form like an allium (or a globe thistle or a milkweed). Its nickname (lily of the Nile) makes issues much more complicated since agapanthus flowers resemble a miniature model of the standard lily.

Actually, the genus is so near so many others botanically that it’s been assigned and reassigned to a number of completely different plant teams earlier than lately incomes its family, agapanthaceae.

When you get to know this beautiful plant, nevertheless, we’re positive you’ll by no means misidentify it once more (and that you simply’re going to wish to develop some in your personal yard). Learn on for an in depth exploration of the agapanthus genus, together with its traits, historical past, rising preferences, upkeep necessities, and drawback areas. 

Traits

Hardy in zones 8-10, agapanthus is a young, herbaceous perennial with a spherical arching behavior. Its strappy leaves are darkish inexperienced and shiny with a outstanding midrib crease and a size averaging someplace between one and two toes. Some have variegated leaves with white facilities or margins. Many are evergreen and can maintain their colour all through winter.

Agapanthus roots are tuberous and vegetation develop from the middle outward because the rhizomes unfold. Inflorescences are terminal and emerge as inexperienced bulb-shaped buds on thick, upright stems that float above the foliage. Flowering happens at the very least as soon as in summer time and infrequently repeats in areas with longer seasons. 

Blooms have a rounded umbel form and include 20 to 100 small, bell-shaped flowers. Every has six reflexive petals and a deep throat with a central stamen cluster. Coloring may be white to darkish purple, and petal midribs are normally darker than their margins. 

Historical past & Cultivation

The genus has a complicated taxonomic historical past. As soon as a monotypic household consisting of just one genus, Amaryllidaceae consists of a number of species, and a whole bunch of cultivars. 

Regardless of its deceptive nickname (Lily of the Nile), the Agapanthus genus is native to southern Africa fairly than northeast Africa’s Nile River basin. Dropped at Europe by African explorers within the late 1600s. The plant has medicinal functions. Its components have been used to deal with paralysis, coronary heart illness, respiratory situations, and quite a lot of different illnesses, and its leaves have been used as bandages.

Planting

You may plant agapanthus in a container, ideally in spring or fall. Hardy in zones 8-10, you’ll be able to develop it within the floor year-round in hotter components of the globe. In zones under 8, plant them when soil temperatures exceed 50 levels Fahrenheit (10 levels Celsius) and convey them in for winter. 

Within the Floor

Plant agapanthus 12 to 18 inches aside. Dig a shallow trench that’s roughly two inches deep and set rhizomes within the soil with their eyes or inexperienced shoots directed upward. Cowl loosely with soil in order that the highest quarter of the rhizomes are barely uncovered.

In a Container

Choose a well-draining pot that’s 10 to 12 inches vast to accommodate agapanthus’ mature width. Agapanthus blooms extra prolifically with constricted roots, so something bigger than 12 inches would possibly result in a extra foliage-heavy specimen. Fill your container with a fertile potting combine. Set rhizomes in a shallow trench that’s two inches deep and canopy loosely with potting combine. 

Established Vegetation

In the event you’ve bought a flowering agapanthus plant from a backyard middle or acquired one from a fellow gardener, dig a gap that’s simply as deep and roughly twice as vast because the plant’s root mass. Set the basis mass in your gap in order that the plant’s crown sits simply above the soil floor, and backfill with soil (or potting combine, in case you’re planting in a container). 

Tips on how to Develop

Agapanthus vegetation are straightforward to develop and care for so long as what sort of species you will have and your hardiness zone. Go away deciduous varieties within the floor the place they’re hardy or overwinter them in a cool, darkish place in areas with chilly winters. 

Evergreen varieties are significantly cold-sensitive. Convey them inside if temperatures are anticipated to dip under 50 levels F (10 levels C). Notice that evergreen species is not going to go dormant like deciduous species however will cycle by their bloom intervals like a houseplant, requiring solar and water year-round. 

When given a beneficiant quantity of pure mild, wealthy soil, and good drainage, agapanthus vegetation can stay for as much as 10 years. Right here’s a take a look at this distinctive plant’s particular rising necessities:

Gentle

Agapanthus vegetation require full solar to flower totally and obtain agency, inexperienced, wholesome foliage. Web site them the place they are going to obtain at the very least six hours of direct, unfiltered mild.

In areas with scorching afternoon temperatures and scorching solar, select a location that provides six hours within the cooler components of the day. An east-facing mattress with some afternoon shade is good. 

Water

Water new vegetation about one inch per week whereas they’re setting roots and adapting to a brand new location. As soon as established, scale back watering to about one-half inch per week. Use a rain gauge or monitor your native precipitation ranges to be sure you’re offering sufficient however not an excessive amount of water.

Direct supplemental irrigation at your plant’s roots and never its leaves or flowers. Use a soaker hose or a low, sluggish setting in your hose nozzle, and water within the morning if potential. It will give condensation on leaf surfaces an opportunity to evaporate all through the day and discourage fungal situations. 

Soil

Agapanthus is tolerant of all kinds of soil situations however grows finest in mild, loamy soil that drains rapidly. Evergreen species get pleasure from a bit sand labored into the combo.

Container-grown agapanthus vegetation get pleasure from a light-weight potting combine that’s barely acidic. For each potted and in-ground vegetation, shoot for a pH degree that’s someplace between 5.5 and 6.5 for finest outcomes. 

Upkeep

As soon as its rising wants are met, caring for agapanthus just isn’t tough, and its upkeep is not going to demand an excessive amount of of your time and a spotlight. Gardeners in zones that often however don’t recurrently freeze will possible have to consider this plant greater than others, and gardeners under this plant’s zone 8 cutoff must take into consideration overwintering. Outdoors of those issues, sustaining agapanthus is pretty easy.

Mulch

A two to three-inch layer of natural mulch will shield agapanthus from chilly winter temperatures whereas protecting its roots moist and discouraging puddles. It’ll additionally nourish the soil and decompose over time.

Hardwood chips, composted yard waste, leaf litter, and straw are all good decisions for mulching agapanthus. Pull mulch away from plant crowns in spring when the solar begins to heat the soil.

Fertilizing

This plant will profit from a fertilizer utility in early spring and once more two months later when flowering is about to start. Select a balanced granular fertilizer with a good NPK ratio (10-10-10) or one with a barely greater phosphorus content material (5-10-10) if you wish to encourage flowers over foliage. Apply as directed and water instantly.

Deadheading

Relying on the place you reside, agapanthus will flower at the very least as soon as in early summer time for a interval of about three weeks. In hotter areas, a second wave may be anticipated later in summer time, particularly if spent blooms are deadheaded promptly. 

Eradicating pale flowers will inform roots that seeds haven’t been unfold and copy has failed. It will sign them to ship up extra blooms in an effort to create extra seeds and, thus, end in extra flowers. Deadhead spent agapanthus flowers by chopping their stems right down to the bottom with a clear, sharp pruning device. 

Pruning/Cutback

Agapanthus doesn’t want pruning all through the season. If brown or yellow leaves seem, they are often snipped off to discourage illness, however wholesome, inexperienced foliage should be left in place till the top of the season. Evergreen agapanthus shouldn’t be reduce in any respect until there’s a well being drawback. 

When the leaves of a deciduous agapanthus plant flip brown in fall, this can be a sign that they’re getting into dormancy and are able to be reduce. Utilizing clear, sharp bypass pruners or loppers, minimize leaves right down to about three inches above the plant’s crown. It will inform the roots to nourish subsequent yr’s vegetation fairly than this one’s. 

Overwintering

Vegetation which are hardy may be left within the floor after being reduce so long as temperatures are anticipated to stay above 50 levels (10°C). These grown in pots and people grown in areas the place the genus just isn’t hardy (under zone 8) may be saved in a cool, darkish room or storage that doesn’t freeze. Rhizomes will also be dug up, cleaned off, and wrapped in paper if space for storing is proscribed.  

Division

Though agapanthus vegetation flower prolifically when roots are densely packed, they do require division each three years or so to maintain their upright behavior. To carry out this fundamental upkeep process, comply with these steps:

1. Rigorously carry the complete plant from the bottom or its container. 
2. Lay it flat on a tarp or exhausting floor and brush off the dust so rhizomes are considerably uncovered.
3. Use a knife or flat backyard shovel to slice the basis mass into equal sections or break off particular person rhizomes along with your palms.
4. In every new part, you’ll want to embrace some rhizomes (the fleshy potato half), some fibrous root hairs, and a few eyes (inexperienced shoots or brown bumps). 
5. Replant as you’d a brand new agapanthus plant.  

Propagation

Though seeds may be collected from pale flowers and planted instantly within the soil, this isn’t the advisable methodology for propagating agapanthus vegetation. Not solely do seeds take a number of years to ascertain, however new vegetation is not going to possible resemble the unique since most nursery-sold agapanthus vegetation are hybrids. 

Division is by far the best methodology for turning one agapanthus plant into a number of, and because the course of is asexual, the brand new plant shall be an actual clone of its guardian.  

Varieties

It’s unlikely you’ll buy an agapanthus plant in your native backyard middle that hails from a real, singular species. These exist within the wilds of southern Africa however not wherever else on the earth. The genus crosses simply with itself, and the decorative cultivars are normally derived from blended species. 

For that reason, most plant tags is not going to reference a selected agapanthus species in any respect and can simply cite the genus and cultivar. Additionally, you will continuously see vegetation on this group generically known as an ‘African lily.’ 

Make sure to verify hardiness zones and plant descriptions to find out in case you’re getting a deciduous or evergreen selection. Right here’s a take a look at a number of the most typical agapanthus cultivars and a short description of every.

Sensible Blue

This deciduous selection has unfastened umbels of violet-blue, trumpet-shaped flowers with darkish midribs. At maturity, every plant produces roughly 100 flowers per summer time. Thought-about a dwarf, ‘Sensible Blue’ maxes out at 18 inches. It’s thought of semi-evergreen and hardy in zones 8-11. 

Polar Ice

Blooming prolifically from mid-summer to early fall, this vivid and cheerful agapanthus cultivar options snow-white flower clusters and grows as much as three toes tall. The leaves are upright and vivid inexperienced, arching barely at their peaks. This one tolerates a bit extra chill and might survive with out fuss in zones 8-11. 

Fireworks

This compact, evergreen cultivar earns its title for resembling a festive burst of sparks within the night time sky. The flowers are two-toned and trumpet-shaped, with lavender throats that transition to white on the petal ideas. Maxing out at two toes tall, ‘Fireworks’ stays inexperienced yr spherical and is hardy in zones 8-11. 

Frequent Issues

When correctly planted and maintained, agapanthus vegetation are recognized for being extremely immune to pests and ailments. There are a number of to be careful for, nevertheless. Right here’s a fast look:

Ailments

The ailments that almost all have an effect on agapanthus are all fungal in nature, and root rot tops the checklist. Introduced on by poor drainage, overzealous watering practices, and/or extreme precipitation, root rot is a fungal situation that kills a plant from the bottom up. Characterised by wilted or yellowing leaves, mushy rhizomes, and a foul scent, root rot is nearly all the time deadly, and agapanthus vegetation with this illness ought to be destroyed.

Grey mildew can also be introduced on by extreme moisture or improper drainage. Signs of this fungus embrace a fuzzy, grey protecting on leaves and stems. You may also discover a hoop within the soil round your plant’s crown. In the event you suspect grey mildew, snip away the affected plant components promptly, and it has a superb probability of recovering totally. 

Powdery mildew is a principally aesthetic fungal situation introduced on by extra moisture and insufficient airflow. Signs embrace a darkish grey or black coating on leaves, stems, and probably flowers. Search for it after cool, moist intervals and take away affected tissue from the backyard. Powdery mildew just isn’t life-threatening, however it could actually overwinter within the soil, so hold issues tidy to forestall an ongoing drawback. 

Bugs & Critters

In the event you’re noticing cotton-like lots in your agapanthus plant’s leaves or stems, you might have a mealybug infestation. These sap-sucking bugs drain the vitamins from plant tissue and depart a sticky excrement behind that draws ants. 

Spider mites will produce a white, stringy webbing that’s barely much less dense than mealybugs, and you might discover white puncture marks on leaf tissue. They can even depart a sooty residue that draws different bugs and ailments. 

Search for chewed leaf margins and slimy trails on their undersides to point an issue with snails or slugs. Since they’re most energetic at night time, significantly throughout cool, moist intervals, the easiest way to verify their presence is with a flashlight after darkish. 

The answer for coping with bugs that assault your agapanthus vegetation is usually the identical for all. An everyday, exhausting blast from the hose and/or handbook elimination are going to be your finest weapons. Slugs and snails may be deterred with beer traps or bait you should buy at your native ironmongery shop.

Continuously Requested Questions