Agapanthus africanus Minor

Common name : Agapanthus, Blue African Lily, African Lily, Lily of the Nile, African Tulip Botanical name : Agapanthus africanus Family: Amaryllidaceae

A beautiful plant growing in grass like clumps having an upright fountain form about 1-3 feet. Leaves are narrow and strap shaped up to 2 inches wide and 6-24 inches long rising in two ranks from rhizomes. Flowers are in umbels and vary in number from few to over 100 appearing on top of the wiry to stiff scapes as blue or white.

These plants require sun for half a day or more. Well drained moist soils are suitable. Plant rhizomes in pots/areas filled with leaf mould and compost

Propagation: Division of rhizomes/bulbs

Kingdom - Plantae

Order - Asparagales

Genus - Agapanthus

Species - africanus

Synonym - Agapanthus africanus, agapanthus umbellatus, tulbaghia africana, crinum africanum

Origin / Native - Western Cape Province, South Africa

Type & Category - Perennial Herb, Bulb

Height - 2 to 3 feet tall

Spread - 3 feet wide

Flowering Month - May, june, july, august, september

Foliage&Plant - Evergreen, strap/grass like, narrow leaves, 2 feet long

Flowers - Small, showy, funnel-shaped, blue, rounded umbels of 40 blooms, connected with fleshy long leafless stems

Flowering Season - Summer

Light Requirement&Care - Full sun, part shade, well drained, moist, fertile soil, good water regularly

Good For - Pots, containers, borders, edging

Grows in - Rock mountains

Attracts - Bees, butterflies

Varieties - Agapanthus africanus 'blue heaven', agapanthus africanus charlotte, agapanthus africanus big blue, agapanthus africanus blue

Agapanthus africanus blue flower buds

Agapanthus africanus minor

Photographs: Guna Selvi, Bindu Mohan Camera:Nikon D40x, Cannon Powershot A450 Location : Ooty Botanical Garden, Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu, India Description: Bindu Mohan