Agapanthus africanus

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Agapanthus africanus
A. africanus flowers
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Amaryllidaceae
Subfamily: Agapanthoideae
Genus: Agapanthus
Species: A. africanus
Binomial name
Agapanthus africanus
(L.) Hoffmanns.
Synonyms[1]
  • Abumon africanum (L.) Britton
  • Agapanthus minor Lodd.
  • Agapanthus tuberosus L. ex DC. nom. inval.
  • Agapanthus umbellatus L'Hér.
  • Crinum africanum L.
  • Crinum floridum Salisb. nom. illeg.
  • Mauhlia africana (L.) Dahl
  • Mauhlia linearis Thunb.
  • Mauhlia umbellata (L'Hér.) Thunb. ex Schult. & Schult.f.
  • Tulbaghia africana (L.) Kuntze
  • Tulbaghia heisteri Fabr.
  • Tulbaghia minor (Lodd.) Kuntze

Agapanthus africanus (African lily) is a native of the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa.

It has a short stem bearing a tuft of long, narrow, arching leaves 10–35 cm long and 1–2 cm broad, and a central flower stalk 25–60 cm tall, ending in an umbel of 20-30 white, or bright blue, funnel-shaped flowers, each flower 2.5–5 cm diameter.

Cultivation

Agapanthus africanus

It was introduced to Europe at the close of the 17th century as a handsome greenhouse plant, and is hardy outdoors in the south of England and Ireland if protected from severe frosts. The plants are easy to cultivate and (in areas that have winter) are generally grown in large pots or tubs that can be protected from frost.

Several cultivars are known, such as 'Albus' (with white flowers), 'Sapphire' (dark blue flowers), 'Aureus' (leaves striped with yellow), and 'Variegatus' (leaves almost entirely white with a few green bands). There are also double-flowered and larger- and smaller-flowered cultivars.

During the summer they require plenty of water and are very effective on the margins of lakes or by running streams, where they thrive. They may be propagated from offsets or by dividing the rootstock in early spring or autumn.

Notes

  1. ↑ "The Plant List: A Working List of All Plant Species". 

References

External links

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