Flower Encyclopedia: Agapanthus
 |
| Scientific classification |
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Liliopsida
Order: Asparagales
Family: Alliaceae
Subfamily: Agapanthoideae
Genus: Agapanthus | |
Agapanthus is certainly a giant among exotic flowers; its lovely funnel-shaped flowers sitting atop a strong stem, capable of growing to over 1 metre in height.
An ideal garden plant, agapanthus is perfect for creating dramatic effect. It also looks stunning, fresh-cut, in floral arrangements and bouquets. A handful of stems in a tall vase make an attractive and unusual focal point in any room.
Now widely grown for use in the floristry industry, agapanthus comes in two colours - white (Albus) and blue-purple (Sapphire). Agapanthus is an herbaceous perennial, originally native to South Africa’s Cape of Good Hope. It is now grown across the globe, having established itself in countries such as New Zealand, where it grows freely at the road side.
Easy to cultivate for the garden, its roots can be split and divided. A row of agapanthus in a flower bed, or edging a lawn for example, can be a wonderful sight when in flower - imagine hundreds of bobbing purple or white heads, swaying in the breeze. A real marvel!
Did you know?
Agapanthus can be potted in containers for the patio and appears to thrive, even when pot bound.
Agapanthus will grow wonderfully when planted in a slightly acidic sandy mix, thriving on a slow release fertiliser and flowering regularly.
The agapanthus requires plenty of watering and will thrive in an environment close to water. For example, the banks of ponds and lakes ensure optimum growing conditions for the agapanthus.
