Agapanthus have long been cultivated (especially in warmer parts of the world) and today there are a multitude of species and varieties.
In nature, it grows in moisture-retentive soil – typically in ditches or in meadows, pastures and the like.
The name Agapanthus comes from the Greek Agape, which is the word for love and thus Agapanthus means love flower.
Cultivation and care
- Store in a cool place during the winter, but do not expose to frost (lilies are heat-demanding). A rule of thumb is between 1-10°C
- In winter, you can cover the lily with spruce branches
- In the spring, it can be an advantage to move it out – and back in again if there is frost – this avoids weak or pale leaves
- Alternatively, you can wait to move it outside until early June, when all danger of frost has passed
- If outdoors, it is best to place it in a warmer spot in the garden – such as a south-facing wall
- Indoors, the lily is best grown in a pot, pot or tub
- Flowering occurs in late summer and the wilted flower stalks should be removed
- Leaves can tend to lose their color and become “sweaty” if they get too much direct sunlight; if this is the case, it should not be placed in too bright a spot
- Does not tolerate frequent transplanting. This will typically result in the lily skipping flowering for a year
Watering
- During the winter, the lily should not be watered. The soil in which it stands should not be wet either
- In summer (if it gets very hot) it should be watered daily
- As it grows, keep it moist
- Watering can be gradually reduced after flowering in late summer
Fertilization
It is recommended to fertilize in spring and in late summer after flowering. The late summer fertilization is necessary if you want flowers the following year. Alternatively, you can fertilize throughout the spring-summer season (i.e. also during the summer).
The fertilizer used in late summer should also have a high potassium content to strengthen the lily towards winter. In winter, it should not be fertilized.
Characteristics of the shield lily
- Tuberous plant
- The flowers are bell-shaped and are arranged in umbels of about 25 flowers each
- Flower umbels are large and can be blue, purple or white
- However, some hybrids have flower colors not found in the wild lily (such as orange)
- Leaves are narrow and elongated
- Flower stalks grow up to 120 cm long
- The total height of the umbellifer can be up to 130 cm
Geographical distribution
Agapanthus originates from the area between the Cape of Good Hope and the Limpopo River in South Africa.
In some countries, the Agapanthus is now considered an invasive plant species – a type of weed. This is the case in New Zealand, for example, where it is mainly gardeners' resistance that keeps the lily from being added to the National Pest Plant Accord (which would mean it could no longer be sold in the country).
Propagation
Umbelliferae are propagated in the fall immediately after flowering or in the spring when the tuber is divided – spring is optimal as this is when the lily is growing (April is typically the best month in Denmark). When dividing, you should avoid damaging the roots.
Umbelliferae can also be seed propagated.
Species of Agapanthus
Agapanthus is a genus belonging to the subfamily Agapanthoideae, which was previously considered an independent family called Agapanthaceae. Sometimes it is also mistakenly placed in the Lily family or the Onion family.
Below is an overview of all the species in the genus Agapanthus:
- Agapanthus africanus
- Agapanthus campanulatus
- Agapanthus caulescens
- Agapanthus coddii
- Agapanthus comptonii
- Agapanthus dyeri
- Agapanthus inapertus
- Agapanthus nutans
- Agapanthus orientalis
- Agapanthus praecox
- Agapanthus walshii