African lily

African lily: how do you recognise it?

Habit

Dense clump of strap-shaped leaves, with flower stems up to about 70 cm and a spread of about 50 cm.

Leaves

Long, narrow and strap-shaped, dark green and slightly leathery; evergreen.

Flower

Round heads of dozens of funnel-shaped flowers on bare stems, in July–August.

Colour

Usually deep blue to violet-blue; the form ‘Albus’ is white.

Roots

Thick, fleshy roots from a short rootstock, which can fill a whole pot.

Flowering: July–August · Plants: April–May

Why grow it?

• Large blue or white flower heads in July–August, a real summer feel on the patio.
• A fine, long-lasting cut flower for a large vase.
• Bees and bumblebees love the flowers.
• Evergreen: the clump stays attractive all year, even while it is stored for winter.
• Little work: it likes a tight pot and rarely needs repotting.

African lily: where does it grow best?

• Full sun, in a warm, sheltered spot; in shade it hardly flowers.
• Well-drained, loam-based compost, neutral to slightly chalky, mixed with some sand or grit.
• Moist in summer, but never wet: water must drain away freely.
• In a sturdy pot only just bigger than the root ball; in the open ground only in the mildest spots with heavy protection.

Light

Sun

Soil type

Sand or loam

Acidity

Neutral or chalky

Moisture

Normal

Size

0.7 m tall, 0.5 m wide

Hardiness

Half hardy (to -3 °C): protect it in harsh winters

Goes well with

• Lavender: Another sun lover for pots or the patio, with fine grey leaves beside the strap-shaped foliage.
• Olive tree: Together in pots on the patio: a Mediterranean feel.
• Ornamental grasses: Airy plumes that contrast nicely with the round flower heads.
• Gaura: Delicate white or pink flowers all summer long.
• Rosemary: Grey-green, scented and just as fond of sun and a free-draining pot.

African lily: when and how to plant it?

Plant in April–May.

1. Plant or repot in April–May, before new growth gets going.
2. Choose a sturdy, heavy pot with a drainage hole, only just bigger than the root ball: in a pot that is too big it mainly makes leaves.
3. Put a layer of gravel or crocks in the bottom and fill with potting compost mixed with some garden soil and sharp sand.
4. Set the plant at the same depth as before, with the base of the leaves just above the compost, and firm in.
5. Water and only put the pot outside in full sun after mid-May, when there is no more risk of night frost.

Care

Water

Water regularly from May to August, letting the top few centimetres dry out in between. Less from September, and very little in winter, but do not let it dry out completely.

Feeding

From April to August, feed every two weeks with a fertiliser for flowering plants. Stop in September.

Deadheading

Cut faded stems off at the base, or leave them for the decorative seed heads.

Repotting

Only when the pot cracks or the roots push up out of it, usually every 4–5 years, in spring.

Cut flowers

Cut the stems when the first flowers in the head open.

Tip: Grow it in a pot that you overwinter frost-free and in good light, and do not repot too often: the tighter the pot, the more flowers.

African lily: when to prune it?

When: It is not pruned. Just cut off faded flower stems and yellow or damaged leaves.

How:

• After flowering, cut faded flower stems off at the base, unless you want to keep the seed heads.
• Remove yellow or dead leaves at the base.
• In spring, cut away frost-damaged leaves; new ones grow quickly.

Caution: Do not cut off healthy green leaves: the plant needs them to flower next year.

Pruning calendar and basic rules

Propagation

Division

In April–May, when repotting: cut the root ball into pieces with a sharp knife or a spade, each with a few shoots. Divided plants sometimes skip a year of flowering.

Seed

Sow ripe seed indoors in spring, in a light, warm place. Seedlings take several years to flower and do not always resemble the parent.

African lily: how does it get through the winter?

Hardy to −3 °C: protect in harsh winters.

• It tolerates only a few degrees of frost, down to about −3 °C: in Belgium it needs a frost-free winter.
• Before the first hard night frost, usually in October–November, move the pot to a light, cool place of about 5–10 °C, such as a cold greenhouse, a bright garage or an unheated conservatory.
• Water very sparingly in winter, just enough to keep the leaves healthy. Overwintering too warm and too dark costs flowers.
• Put it outside again after mid-May, first for a few days in a sheltered spot so the leaves do not scorch.

Diseases and pests

• Poor flowering: Usually a pot that is too big, too little sun, too much nitrogen or overwintering too warm. Grow it in a tight pot in full sun and overwinter it cool and light.
• Root rot: The leaves turn yellow and limp, the roots soft and brown, often from wet compost in winter. Water less and make sure drainage is good.
• Slugs and snails: They hide between the leaves and eat leaves and young flower buds. Check in the evening and pick them off.
• Frost damage: Glassy, later brown leaves after a night frost. Cut them off and bring the pot in on time next year.

Through the year

• January: Overwinter cool and light. Very little water.
• March: A little more water as the leaves start to grow.
• April: Repot or divide if needed. Start feeding.
• May: Move outside into full sun after mid-May.
• June: Flower stems appear. Water and feed.
• July: Flowering. Water regularly. Cut flowers for the vase.
• August: Flowering. Last feed.
• September: Cut off faded stems. Water less.
• October: Bring indoors before the first hard night frost.
• December: Dormant. Keep cool, light and almost dry.

Edible and useful

Not edible. All parts of African lily (agapanthus) are poisonous, especially the fleshy roots and the sap: eating it can irritate the mouth, with a burning feeling and drooling, and cause vomiting, stomach ache and diarrhoea, in children as well as in dogs and cats. On the skin the sap can cause redness and itching: wear gloves when dividing the clump, repotting or pulling away old leaves, and wash your hands afterwards. Do not let children or pets chew the roots exposed when you divide it. Despite the name it is not a true lily (Lilium), and so less dangerous to cats than lilies, but still keep a pot that overwinters indoors or in the greenhouse, and a vase of the flowers, out of reach of cats and dogs that chew leaves. If any is swallowed, call a poison centre (in Belgium 070 245 245) or your doctor at once.

Good for wildlife

Bees

Nectar and pollen for honeybees and wild bees.

Did you know?

• The name comes from the Greek words agape, ‘love’, and anthos, ‘flower’: the flower of love.
• Many plants sold as Agapanthus africanus are actually hybrids or the related species Agapanthus praecox.
• Despite the name ‘lily’, it is not a true lily: it belongs to the amaryllis family, like the daffodil and the onion.