Bell agapanthus

Bell agapanthus: how do you recognise it?

Habit

Clump of strap-shaped leaves 30–40 cm long, with flower stems up to 80 cm; 40–50 cm wide.

Leaves

Narrow, 1–2 cm wide, grey-green and strap-shaped; they die back in autumn.

Flowers

Rounded heads of 10–15 cm packed with open, bell-shaped flowers, light to dark blue, sometimes white; July–August.

Fruit

Three-sided capsules with flat black seeds; nice for drying.

Roots

Thick, fleshy roots on a short rhizome: not a true bulb.

Flowering: July–August · Plants: April–May

Why grow it?

• Blue flowers in July–August, a colour that is scarce in the summer border.
• Bees and bumblebees visit the flowers eagerly.
• A long-lasting cut flower; the seed heads look good in dried arrangements.
• Deciduous and therefore hardier: it can stay outdoors in the border.
• Also lovely in large pots on a sunny terrace.

Bell agapanthus: where does it grow best?

• Full sun: the more sun, the more flowers.
• Fertile, free-draining soil: sand, loam or clay with grit, neutral to chalky.
• Normally moist in summer, but never wet in winter: wet feet make the roots rot.
• Allow 40–50 cm between plants; in a pot keep it slightly pot-bound, which gives more flowers.

Light

Sun

Soil type

Sand, loam or clay

Acidity

Neutral or chalky

Moisture

Normal

Size

0.8 m tall, 0.5 m wide

Hardiness

Hardy (to -15 °C)

Goes well with

• Feather grass: Airy plumes around the blue heads.
• Daylily: Yellow or orange flowers in the same summer, just as tough and easy.
• Coneflower: Pink daisies beside the blue, also loved by bees.
• Catmint: A low blue edging that hides the bare lower part of the stems.
• Lavender: The same sunny spot, with purple flowers just before.

Bell agapanthus: when and how to plant it?

Plant in April–May.

1. Plant in April–May, once the soil has warmed up.
2. Wear gloves: the sap from roots and leaves can irritate the skin.
3. Dig a hole slightly wider than the root ball and mix grit into heavy soil.
4. Set the top of the rhizome 2–5 cm below the surface, no deeper.
5. Space plants 40–50 cm apart; in a container allow a 25–30 cm pot per plant.
6. Water in straight away and keep the soil moist until it is growing.

Care

Watering

Regularly from May until flowering, especially in pots. Less in autumn; in winter keep the compost in pots almost dry.

Feeding

In the border, compost in April is enough. In pots, a little flowering-plant feed every two weeks from May to July. Too much nitrogen gives lots of leaves and few flowers.

Deadheading

Cut the stems off at the base after flowering, unless you want the seed heads to dry. This also prevents seedlings.

Repotting

Only when the pot is really full, every 3–4 years: a snug pot gives more flowers.

Tidying

In March–April, gently pull away the dead leaves, wearing gloves.

Tip: Cover the roots with a layer of leaves or compost in autumn and make sure the soil does not stay wet in winter: this deciduous agapanthus will then stay in the border for years.

Bell agapanthus: when to prune it?

When: Agapanthus is not pruned. Cut off the spent flower stems after flowering and clear the dead leaves in spring.

How:

• Cut spent flower stems off at the base, or leave them if you like the seed heads.
• Let the leaves die back naturally in autumn: this lets the roots store food for next year.
• In March–April, gently pull away the dead leaves.
• Wear gloves for all these jobs.

Caution: The sap can irritate the skin; wash your hands after working.

Pruning calendar and basic rules

Propagation

Division

In April, when the clump gets congested or flowers less: lift it and split it with two garden forks or a sharp spade, each piece with a few shoots and roots. Wear gloves.

Seed

Sow ripe seed indoors in autumn or spring in seed compost. Seedlings take 2–3 years to flower and do not always resemble the parent.

Bell agapanthus: how does it get through the winter?

Hardy to −15 °C: protect young plants.

• Hardy to about −15 °C on dry soil: it survives most Belgian winters outdoors.
• In autumn, cover the base with a thick layer of leaves, straw or compost.
• Wet soil in winter is more dangerous than frost: plant it where water drains away well.
• In a pot: move it to a cool, frost-free place such as a garage or greenhouse and give almost no water.

Diseases and pests

• No flowers: Too little sun, too much nitrogen, recent division or too large a pot. Give it more sun, less feed and be patient after dividing.
• Slugs: They eat the young leaves in spring. Pick them off in the evening or lay a board for them to hide under.
• Root rot: Yellow, limp plants in wet soil. Improve drainage with grit or plant higher.
• Agapanthus gall midge: Deformed, discoloured buds that fail to open, with small larvae inside. Cut off affected buds and put them in the household waste, not on the compost heap.

Through the year

• March: Clear dead leaves. Remove winter cover.
• April: Plant or divide. Add compost.
• May: Plant. Watch for slugs. Put pots back outside.
• June: Water; feed plants in pots.
• July: Flowering. Cut flowers for a vase.
• August: Full bloom. Water in dry spells.
• September: Cut off spent stems or leave them to dry. Collect seed.
• October: The leaves die back. Move pots to a frost-free place.
• November: Cover the base with leaves, straw or compost.
• December: Rest: pots frost-free 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 agape (love) and anthos (flower): flower of love.
• Agapanthus is also called lily of the Nile, although the genus comes only from southern Africa.
• Campanulatus means bell-shaped, after the shape of the flowers.