Agapanthus: The ultimate guide to growing this summer stunner

Agapanthus , also know as the African lily or Lily of the Nile , is a arresting perennial that bring a jot of elegance to any garden . With its outstanding clustering ofblue or clean flowerson tall , hardy stem turn , Agapanthus take a striking focal point in borders , containers , or as a standalone lineament .

Agapanthus flowers were a very intimate site in gardens and streetscapes when I lived in Australia , wherey they thrived . This tells you that they favor warm climates , so they are not likely to be a huges success for you if you have coolheaded summer .

Agapanthus are relatively comfortable to worry for , thriving with right attention to their specific needs . They are especially great for coastal gardens due to their salt spray tolerance and take care fantastic in aggregated plantings or lining nerve tract .

Agapanthus ‘Midnight Blue’ Lily of the Nile bycultivar413is licensed under CC BY 2.0

All about Agapanthus

Agapanthus is have intercourse for its ability to thrive in various weather and its long anthesis menses , often blooming for several workweek in summer .

Key Agapanthus facts:

Growing Agapanthus in containers

Growing Agapanthus in containers is a wonderful way to bask these beautiful plants in a variety of garden context . One of the main benefits is their adaptability ; Agapanthus thrive in pots , gain them arrant for patios , balcony , andsmall garden space .

To start , prefer a container with adept drain and fill it with a well - draining potting mix . Agapanthus prefer a cheery positioning , so place your container where it will receive plenty of sunshine . Water the plant regularly , ensuring thesoilstays moist but not waterlogged . During the develop season , eat your Agapanthus with a balanced fertilizer to encourage robust emergence and abundant blooms .

manage for container - grown Agapanthus is comparatively straightforward . In colder mood , container tender the advantage of mobility , take into account you to move theplants indoorsor to a sheltered location during winter .

Agapanthus ‘Midnight Blue’ Lily of the Nile bycultivar413is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Deadhead spend flowers to raise continued blooming and prevent the plant from expending Energy Department on seed production .

Do n’t be too fast to weigh re - potting or separate the plant , even if the roots look congested . Agapanthus flower more vigorouslywhen they have tightly wad root . So do n’t worry if they look like they are outgrowing the pot .

Care requirements

Best Cultivars

How to grow the Plant

Soil and Feeding

Agapanthus prefers well - drain , prolific soil . A mixing of loam , gumption , and constituent matter works well . Add compost or well - rotted manure to improvesoil structureand fertility . In spring , apply a balanced , deadening - spill plant food .

During the growing time of year , you could supplement with a limpid fertiliser gamy in potassium to advance florescence . Avoid over - fertilising , as this can conduce to lush leaf at the expense of blooms .

Watering

Water regularly during the grow season , particularly when plant are build . Once found , Agapanthus is relatively drought - broad but benefits from consistent moisture .

Water deeply and less frequently to encourage deep root growth . Avoid waterlogging , as this can lead to root rot . In containers , ensure proper drain and urine more oft , especially during red-hot spells .

Pruning

Prune Agapanthus after flowering to assert its human body and promote tidy growth . Cut back blossom stems to the base once flower have languish . In autumn , tidy the foliation by absent any dead or yellowing leaves .

For evergreen plant motley in milder mood , leave the foliage intact over wintertime for security . In colder areas , cut back deciduous varieties to ground story and ply winter protection with mulch .

Propagation

The most rough-cut method acting of propagating Agapanthus is by sectionalisation . However , as noted , do n’t rush to divide Agapanthus just because the plant life has congested roots , as this helps them flower well – particularly in container .

Here ’s a step - by - step guide :

Alternatively , sow seeds in spring , but note that this method is slower and may not produce plants true to the parent .

Common Problems & Solutions

Martin Cole has been an greedy plant devotee and nurseryman for more than 20 year and loves to talk and write about gardening . In 2006 he was a finalist in the BBC Gardener of the Year competition . He is a member of the National dahlia Society .

He previously lived in London and Sydney , Australia , where he took a sheepskin course of action in Horticultural studies and is now ground in North Berwick in Scotland . He founded GardeningStepbyStep.com in 2012 . The website is aimed at everybody who loves plant or has been bite by the gardening bug and want to know more .

garden Step by Step has beencited by Thompson and Morgan , the UK ’s largest mail edict works retail merchant , as a website that publish adept horticulture content .

Agapanthus flower, purple bloom