African Blue Lily

Agapanthus
A genus of tuberous perennials, that are native to South Africa.
Most species and varieties bloom mid summer to early autumn.
Thrives in full sun to partial shade on fertile, light, humus-rich, well drained soil. Mulch during both winter and summer.
The tubers should be planted 4 inches deep ( deeper in regions with severe winters )
They are rarely bothered by pests, disease or deer.
The hardiest varieties are hardy in zones 6 and 7 on sheltered sites.
In regions that they are not fully winter hardy, they can be grown in patio containers and brought indoors during the winter ( near window in a cool room ).
Propagation is from division during early spring or fall, as well as offsets.
Sowing fresh seed is also an option.

* photo of unknown internet source



* photo taken on Oct 21 2014 @ Smithsonian Inst., Washington, DC

* photo taken on May 10 2018 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on June 26 2018 in Ellicott City, MD

Agapanthus africanus
A perennial, reaching a maximum size of 5 x 5 feet, that is native to the southern tip of South Africa. in mild climates it is evergreen. The foliage freezes at 25 F.
The leaves are up to 20 x 0.7 inches in size.
The violet-blue flowers are borne in clusters up to 12 inches across.
Requires abundant moisture during summer.
Hardy zones 9 to 10 ( 8 on protected sites )

* photo of unknown internet source


'Albus'
White flowers

'Aureus'
Leaves striped with yellow.

'Sapphire'
Deep blue flowers

'Sun Stripe'
Mid-green foliage boldly and broadly margined creamy-yellow.

* photo taken on June 17 2021 in Elkridge, MD

'Variegatus'
Leaves mostly white with long green stripes.

Agapanthus campanulatus
A fast growing, long-lived, deciduous, clumping perennial, reaching a maximum size of 4.5 x 3 ( rarely over 2.5 ) feet, that is native to South Africa.
The attractive strap-shaped leaves, up to 1 inch wide, are glossy deep green.
The deep blue flowers, up to 1.5 inches each, are borne 10 to 30 in umbels up to 4 inches across during late spring to early summer.
Hardy zones 6 to 9 in full sun to partial shade on moderately moist, fertile, well drained soil. Mulch heavily during late autumn where winters are cold.

'Albus'
Pure white flowers, otherwise identical.

'Kingston Blue Strain'
A deciduous perennial, reaching up to 2 feet in height. It is of Agapanthus campanulatus parentage.
The deep blue flowers are borne on rounded clusters up to 5 inches across.
Hardy zones 7 to 10 ( 6 and possibly even 5 on very sheltered sites with deep winter mulch ).

Agapanthus inapertus, ( Drooping Agapanthus )
A dense, deciduous, clumping perennial, reaching up to 6 feet x 50 inches, that is native to southeastern South Africa.
The narrow, strap-shaped leaves, up to 27 x 1.2 inches in size, are gray-green.
The dark blue to violet, tubular flowers are borne on dense heads atop sturdy stalks during mid-summer.
It is completely deciduous, in its native range it disappears during the dry winter months to then reappear after spring rains.
Hardy zones 7 to 10 in full sun

* photo of unknown internet source


Agapanthus praecox
A dense, clumping evergreen perennial, reaching 40 x 50 inches.
The leaves, up to 36 x 3 inches in size, are bright green.
The mid-blue flowers are borne on dense heads.
Hardy zones 8 to 11

* photo taken on May 16 2011 in Washington, D.C.


subsp orientalis
An evergreen perennial, reaching up to 5 x 5 feet.
The leaves are up to 36 x 3 inches in size.
The lilac-blue flowers are borne on large spherical heads.
Hardy zones 7 to 9 ( A. praecox is hardy zone 9 ).
Likes abundant moisture during summer. Flood tolerant.

* photo of unknown internet source


'Albus'
White flowers.
Hardy zones 8 to 9

'Blue Heaven'
Reaches up to 3 x 3 ( rarely over 2.5 ) feet with intense blue flowers.
Hardy zones 6 to 9

'Blue Storm'
Forms a clump reaching a maximum size of 20 x 20 inches with narrow green leaves.
The very abundant blue flowers borne early summer into early autumn. As many as 50 or more flower stems may be borne at a time. The flowers reach up to 2.5 feet in height.
Hardy zones 9 ( hardy to 14 F or even colder with a deep winter mulch ) in full sun to partial shade on well drained soil. Drought tolerant.
Great for use as a patio plant in cold climates if brought indoors during the winter.

* photo taken by Milan Havlis ( havlis.cz )

* patent photo

'Flore Pleno'
Double lilac-blue flowers.
Hardy zones 8 to 9

'Loch Hope'
Reaches up to 5 feet with deep violet-blue flowers borne on large heads.
Hardy zones 8 to 9

'Mooreanus'
Dwarf in habit, reaching up to 20 inches, with lilac-blue flowers.

'Snowstorm'
Forms a clump reaching a maximum size of 3 x 3 feet with narrow green leaves and very abundant, white flowers borne early summer into early autumn.
Hardy zones 9 in full sun to partial shade on well drained soil. Drought tolerant.

OTHER HYBRIDS

* photo of unknown internet source



Agapanthus 'Baby Blue'
Reaches up to 2 feet with pale blue flowers.

'Blue Yonder'
A perennial, reaching up to 2.5 feet in height.
The strap-shaped foliage is mid-green.
The intense deep blue flowers are borne on dense rounded clusters atop stalks up to 3 feet high, during summer.
Hardy zones 7 to 10 ( 6 if containers are moved to an unheated garage or basement during winter.

Agapanthus 'Bressingham Blue'
Vigorous in habit, reaching up to 3 feet in height, with bright blue flowers borne on clusters, up to 5 inches across, during early to mid summer.
Hardy zones 7b to 9

Agapanthus 'Bressingham White'
Reaches up to 3 feet in height, with pure white flowers during early to mid summer.
Hardy zones 8 to 9

* photo of unknown internet source


Agapanthus 'Canadian Blue Diamond'
Blue-green foliage and deep purple-blue flowers.
Hardy zones 5 to 9, among the hardiest of all Nile Lilies.

Agapanthus 'Chatto Blue'
Dense, reaching up to 4 feet, with mid-green leaves and deep blue flowers.

Agapanthus 'Cold Hardy White'
Vigorous with deciduous foliage and profuse, pure white flowers borne during mid-summer. Dwarf in habit, it reaches only 15 inches x 1 foot.
Hardy zones 5 to 9, mulch heavily during the first few winters

Agapanthus 'Elaine'
Very vigorous, reaching a maximum height of 4.5 feet.
The deep green foliage forms a clump up to 3 feet high. The leaves are up to 2.4 inches wide. The deep purplish-blue flowers are borne on dense, rounded clusters up to 6 x 8 inches in size.
Hardy zones 7 to 9

Agapanthus 'Ellamae'
Vigorous in habit, reaching a maximum size of 5.5 feet.
The deep green leaves form a massive clump. The leaves are up to 26 x 2 inches in size.
The flowers are intense violet-blue. They are vborne in massive clusters up to 6.5 x 9 inches in size.
Hardy zones 7 to 9

Agapanthus 'Galaxy Blue'
Vigorous and upright in habit, reaching up to 3.3 x 2.7 feet.
The lance-shaped leaves are up to 12 x 0.7 inches in size. The mid-green foliage is deciduous
The deep purplish-blue flowers are borne on rounded clusters up to 4 inches wide, from mid-summer to early autumn.
Hardy zones 6 to 10, it even thrives in milder parts of Michigan and southern Ontario.

* patent photo

Agapanthus 'Galaxy White'
Vigorous and upright in habit, reaching up to 3.3 x 3 feet. It is an introduction of Walters Gardens in Michigan.
The lance-shaped leaves are up to 14 x 0.7 inches in size. The mid-green foliage is deciduous
The very abundant, pure white flowers are borne on rounded clusters up to 4 inches wide, from mid-summer to early autumn.
Hardy zones 6 to 10, it even thrives in milder parts of Michigan and southern Ontario.

* photo taken on July 3 2024 @ U.S. National Arboretum, Wash DC

* patent photos

Agapanthus 'Headbourne Hybrids'
Reaches up to 1 foot with evergreen foliage.
The flowers are blue.
Hardy zones 7 to 10

* photo taken on July 10 2024 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

Agapanthus 'Lilliput'
Dwarf and compact in habit, reaching a maximum size of 1.7 x 2 feet.
The trumpet-shaped, bright blue flowers are borne during early to mid summer.
Great container plant.
Hardy zones 8 to 9

Agapanthus 'Luminous'
Blue-green foliage and soft blue flowers.
Hardy zones 5 to 9, among the hardiest of all Nile Lilies.

Agapanthus 'Midnight Blue'
Reaches up to 3 x 2 feet, with luxuriant deep green foliage and deep purple-blue flowers borne on sturdy scapes.
Hardy zones 7 to 9 ( 6 on protected sites ).

* photo taken on Apr 24 2024 in Elkridge, MD

Agapanthus 'Mood Indigo'
A deciduous, dense, clump-forming perennial, reaching up to 4 x 3 feet. This hybrid contains Agapanthus campanulatus & A. inapertus.
The broad, arching, strap-shaped leaves are mid-green.
The deep purplish-blue flowers, up to 1 inch in length, are borne up to 100 on dense, rounded clusters during mid to late summer.
Hardy zones 7 to 10 ( 6 on protected sites ) in full sun to partial shade.

Agapanthus 'Peter Pan'
Reaches up to 28 x 15 ( rarely over 20 ) inches, with blue flowers.

Agapanthus 'Queen A nne'
Reaches up to 2 feet in height, with bright blue flowers.
Hardy zones 7 to 9

Agapanthus 'Storm Cloud'
Vigorous in habit, reaching a maximum size of 4 x 3 feet, with very deep blue flowers in huge clusters up to 8 inches wide.
The deciduous foliage is up to 2 feet high.
Hardy zones 7b to 10 ( tolerating 0 F ).

Agapanthus 'Tinkerbelle'
Reaches up to 16 inches, with leaves variegated with a creamy-white edge.
The flowers are bright blue.
Hardy zones 7 to 9

Agapanthus 'Twister'
Fast growing, reaching up to 4 x 4 feet with violet-blue ( tipped white ) flowers borne on clusters up to 7 inches across.
The leaves are up to 12 x 0.7 inches in size. The foliage is semi-evergreen
Hardy zones 7b to 9

Agapanthus 'White Heaven'
Reaches up to 2.5 x 2 feet.
The foliage ranges from deciduous to evergreen depending on climate. The leaves are up to 22 x 1.6 inches in size.
The pure white flowers appear in very dense, massive, rounded clusters, up to 10 inches wide, during early to mid-summer. A single flower clusters can have up to 80 blooms
Hardy zones 7b to 9

* patent photos

ADDITIONAL CULTIVARS
https://patents.google.com/patent/USPP20957P3/en?oq=Agapanthus+PP20957