If your looking for a plant you will immediately fall in love with try the Agapanthus! Even if your wanting to show someone how much you care, forget the bunch of roses, even though roses do mean love, the only flower to truly bear loves name is the Agapanthus which is the Greek word for flower of love. Every time you look at this stunning plant it is easy to see why it means this.

Though most plants from the Agapanthus, otherwise known as the South African Lily, are not fully hardy, the Headborne variety is and makes an absolutely wonderful garden plant, excellent for achieving a late summer effect that will last right into fall. The Headborne variety was created by a gardener named Lewis Palmer, who in the 1940s set out to make a hardy form of these beautiful plants by selecting the best and hardiest of seedlings year after year. With much effort and enthusiasm he finally succeeded, creating the Headborne hybrids. Named cultivars of this hybrid such as 'African Moon' 'Cherry Holly', and 'Lucy' have all stood the test of time still flourishing in gardens today.

Description

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Deciduous perennial with very showy rounded clusters of funnel shaped flowers on erect stems with bright green, narrow, strap-shaped leaves. Some hybrids leaves are now variegated coming in cream with stripy green foliage. Flower colors range from many shades of blue and lilac to pure white. There are named varieties, varying in height and intensity of color but all are trouble free, long lived plants. Blooms in July- September. Height is 1 ½ – 4 feet. Spread is1 ½ feet.

Buying

Buy pot grown plants or mail order chunks of bareroot pieces with buds and roots intact. Always try to avoid dried-up pre-packed bulbs. If you want a particular color you must buy a named variety already grown or bareroot because through seed, even though most plants grown this way are lovely, there is no guarantee they will be true to their name or the same as the parent plant.

Planting

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-Plant in a open area in April- May.

-All Agapanthus prefer full sun but they will tolerate light shade in a warm sheltered position.

-They will grow in any soil with good drainage. The only soil they dislike is chalky soil.

-Water well in dry weather.

- In the autumn, in cold regions and on heavy wet soils, apply a thick layer of protective mulch to ensure the crowns are protected and ensure good drainage.

Growing In Containers

-Choose a large enough pot so that you are able to leave your plant undisturbed for several years. The Agapanthus is generally a vigorous plant and though keeping it pot bound will not encourage better flowering in the long run, dividing them will mean fewer flowers, so it is best to keep them in the same pot until it is absolutely necessary to move them.

-Pot in a good compost and feed established plants weekly during the growing season until the flower buds begin to show in color.

-Water freely while growing but then cut back after flowering.

-In the late fall move container to a sheltered position.

Propagation

-Lift and divide plants carefully in April just before the young leaves begin to show. Take care not to damage the brittle, fleshy roots.

-Sow seeds of the hybrids which are very freely produced in March- April under glass. The seedlings usually flower within 2-3 years and the good colored plants can be then kept and the poorly colored Agapanthus discarded.

-As mention above the only way to ensure that they will be like the parent plant is by taking them by division.

Uses

Wonderful used in large drifts or as small accents. Contrasts can be created by planting with orange and yellow heliums and Rudbekias. These flowers make wonderful cut flowers and the dried seed heads are also very decorative.

Terrific for any type of garden, beds, borders and containers so don't be afraid to spread the love.

About Author

Tanya Kime-Wallace is a writer and freelance writer as well as the owner of a small gardening business. She developed a love for writing at a very young age and is extremely passionate about the written word. She is capable of writing virtually anything she sets her mind to and is an upcoming horror novelist. She has extensive knowledge about horticulture and gardening teaching workshops relating to this subject and enjoys being able to share it with others. She has many interests and when she feels something is interesting or important enough to share, she will write about it. She is also a mother of two beautiful children and cherishes every second of it.

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Copyright © 2010 Tanya Kime-Wallace