Agapanthus.
I couldn’t write about strappy leaved plants without including Agapanthus.
At this time of year, the mountain is bursting with them. The ten species in this southern African genus belong to the onion family but do not produce true bulbs, though their thickened fleshy roots perform much the same function. The genus name means ‘Flower of Love’, from the Greek agape, meaning love.
Agapanthus are very hardy and need minimal amounts of fertilizer for general growth. Applying some dynamic lifter or manure around the base of the plant in the Spring will encourage strong growth and longer flowering. On planting Agapanthus be sure to water at least once a day during the first 2-3 weeks to aid establishment. Once established general rainfall is usually sufficient.
Agapanthus grows by seed or by division of the clump, and both can lead to weediness. Plants can spread due to the dumping of unwanted plants into bushland areas. Seeds are not spread by birds but fall around the clump and may drift downhill. To restrict the spread of these plants from your garden, remove flower stalks and don’t dump unwanted plants where they can spread.
Below is a list of some of my favourite Agapanthus. There are of course many varieties and hybrids to choose from so enjoy:
Agapanthus Poppin Purple is a smaller variety with rich purple flowers growing to60x60cm perfect for hot dry spots or under trees
Agapanthus Agapetite is a sterile dwarf hybrid only reaching 15cm with pure white flowers all summer long.
Agapanthus Baby Pete is another dwarf variety with pretty, sky-blue flowers held in abundance during the summer month on neat clumps of 30x60cm. also a sterile variety excellent for mass planting at the edge of a border.
If you are looking for a larger taller plant, try Agapanthus orientalis Black Panther. This will reach 1x1m with large 20cm diameter flower heads in a deep rich purple.
For an even large plant use Agapanthus Queen Mum large which will grow to 1.5mx1.2m. It rarely self-seeds and the flowers are tinted deep blue at the base shading to white at the tips.
If you are looking for something rarer then Agapanthus roseus Strawberry Ice may be a good choice. The unique white flowers blushed with pink rise up from a tidy 1mx1m clump.
We at Clark+Granger wish you a very merry Xmas and look forward to our next article in 2025.
Visit Clark+Granger at www.cplusg.com.au or phone 0456111120 to find out more.
