Drooping agapanthus

Drooping agapanthus: how do you recognise it?

Habit

Upright clump of blue-green leaves with flower stems up to 1.2 m; 40–50 cm wide.

Leaves

Strap-shaped, broad and blue-green with a waxy bloom; they die back in autumn.

Flowers

Narrow, drooping tubular flowers of 3–5 cm that barely open, in loose heads; dark blue to violet, in August–September.

Fruit

Three-sided capsules with flat black seeds.

Roots

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

Flowering: August–September · Plants: April–May

Why grow it?

• Late flowering in August–September, when many other agapanthus have finished.
• Unusual drooping tubular flowers in a deep, dark colour.
• Tall, slender stems that rise above lower plants and give the border height.
• Bees and bumblebees visit the flowers.
• An elegant cut flower with handsome seed heads for drying.

Drooping agapanthus: where does it grow best?

• Full sun, ideally a warm spot: it will then flower on time and freely.
• Free-draining sandy or loamy soil, neutral to chalky.
• Normally moist in summer but dry in winter: wet feet make the roots rot.
• A spot out of the wind stops the tall stems blowing over; allow 40–50 cm between plants.

Light

Sun

Soil type

Sand or loam

Acidity

Neutral or chalky

Moisture

Normal

Size

1.2 m tall, 0.5 m wide

Hardiness

Half hardy (to -12 °C): protect it in harsh winters

Goes well with

• Fountain grass: Plumes in late summer, at the same time as the drooping flowers.
• Globe thistle: Blue globes in the same sunny spot, also loved by bees.
• Ice plant: Flat pink heads at the base in September.
• Michaelmas daisy: Carries on flowering when the agapanthus has finished.
• Catmint: A low blue edging in front of the tall stems.

Drooping 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 heavier 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 30 cm pot per plant.
6. Water in straight away and keep the soil moist until it is growing.

Care

Watering

Regularly from June until flowering, especially in pots. Less in autumn; almost dry in winter.

Feeding

In the border, compost in April. In pots, a little flowering-plant feed every two weeks from May to August.

Support

In a windy spot, tie the tall stems to a thin cane.

Deadheading

Cut the stems off at the base after flowering, or leave the seed heads to dry.

Repotting

Only when the pot is full, every 3–4 years: in a snug pot it flowers more freely.

Tip: Plant it in the warmest part of your border and cover the base in winter: this late bloomer needs a long, warm summer to flower well.

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

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.

Drooping agapanthus: how does it get through the winter?

Hardy to −12 °C: protect in harsh winters.

• Reasonably hardy, to about −12 °C on free-draining soil. In a severe Belgian winter it can be killed.
• In autumn, always 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 or recent division. Give it more sun, less feed and be patient.
• Collapsing stems: Tall stems blow over in an exposed spot. Choose a sheltered place or give them support.
• 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.

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: Flower stems appear. Support them if needed.
• August: Flowering begins. Cut flowers for a vase.
• September: Full bloom. Water in dry spells.
• October: Cut off spent stems or leave them to dry. 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?

• Inapertus means not opened: the tubular flowers barely open at the mouth.
• It is one of the latest-flowering agapanthus species, extending the blue in the border into September.
• The name agapanthus comes from the Greek agape (love) and anthos (flower).