Bloom with a boom
WATCH OUT FOR A STUNNING DISPLAY, WITH AGAPANTHUS EXPLODING LIKE FIREWORKS
THE fireworks of summer have started. I’m talking about agapanthus as they burst into bloom; perfect globes of flowers that explode from buds at this time of year.
This exotic beauty is also known as African lily or lily of the Nile. Its African roots means it requires lots of sunshine for best results and it doesn’t like things very cold.
That said, you will find the deciduous varieties that die back over winter are hardier than the evergreen ones and, if mulched well in winter, should return in spring.
Evergreen varieties flourish in coastal areas and are often spotted in seaside gardens. If planting in a pot, it’s a good idea to mix in a good bit of grit with the compost to get a free-draining soil as they won’t like to be soggy.
Once established, they can be drought-tolerant, but at this time of year you should aim to water them about twice a week. From
March onwards, you could also feed them fortnightly.
There are special agapanthus feeds available or choose a feed that is high in potash – for example, a tomato feed to encourage blossoms. Too heavy nitrogen feeds result in lots of strappy foliage at the expense of flowers. Agapanthus look beautiful drifting through borders, and their tall sturdy flowering stems usually don’t require staking either.
They are good in pots as well as they like to be packed snugly together.
That said, they can get congested after a few years and can be divided or potted on to a bigger container.
The flowers are long-lasting and can be left over winter as their drumstick seed heads form a translucent image – a kind of ghostly impression of their summer best. They also make beautiful cut flowers.
They are most commonly available in vivid shades of blue. ‘Northern Star’ is a statuesque variety, up to a metre tall, with vivid violet-blue flowers. It’s deciduous and therefore quite hardy.
‘Black Pantha’ is the darkest shade of deep blue, and while semi-evergreen is hardier than other evergreen varieties.
Then there’s ‘Purple Delight’ which is more purple than blue – this one is frost-tender so would be best grown in a container that can be taken indoors for winter protection.
The aptly named ‘Fireworks’ is a real show-stopper – each flower is purple at the base but white at the tips.
Or you may prefer the pure white globes of Agapanthus africanus ‘Albus’ – this will also need winter protection but will bask in our current summer sunshine.
And ‘Strawberry Ice’ has pinktipped
white flowers that would make a very pretty addition to a cottage garden.