A chance discovery

WHEN GARDENER MARK BOYD CAME ACROSS AN UNUSUALLY TINY AGAPANTHUS IN DEBBIE PASCOE’S GARDEN, IT WAS THE BEGINNING OF A PROCESS TO BRING AN ENTIRELY NEW CULTIVAR TO THE WORLD.

Situated in rolling green South Auckland countryside, Debbie’s Patumahoe property is a working garden used to test the heat and humidity hardiness of many of the Living Fashion perennials. However, it was an entirely different treasure that popped up unexpectedly in her flower border.

Mark first noticed the fine ‘Mondo grass-like’ leaves that had formed a tight attractive clump, quite different to the broad straplike leaves of the other agapanthus, which were planted when the old homestead was moved onto the site in the early nineties. From time to time in the plant world, ‘chance sports’ (aka mutations), or a random cross pollination may yield a plant with a uniquely different flower or growth habit. As an experienced gardener, Mark realised he was looking at something unique. So the Agapanthus dubbed ‘Mini Me’ was carefully observed through several growing seasons.

One of the most important considerations when assessing these treasures is to ensure they are ‘stable’, keeping their unique qualities over future generations when propagated many times over.

‘Mini Me’ showed complete consistency, retaining its soft finetextured foliage through winter and summer droughts, while producing dainty sky blue flowers on very short stems just above the foliage. Comparisons with other small agapanthus, ‘Streamline’ and ‘Peter Pan’ confirmed that ‘Mini Me’ was indeed the most petite to date reaching a flowering height of just 25cm and a spread of 50cm at maturity.

To make it into the garden centres, any new plant must be able to be propagated efficiently in a nursery or initiated as tissue culture.

This fascinating science allows one plant to have many offspring, making it possible to grow enough plants to reliably supply garden centres and opening the opportunity to introduce a new variety to the world. In New Zealand trials, ‘Mini Me’ was again triumphant, delivering consistent plants after successful propagation at an Auckland tissue culture laboratory.

Agapanthus ‘Mini Me’ is a valuable low edging plant and is extremely drought hardy once established - an important feature given the threats posed by increasingly dry weather and water restrictions. In addition, Agapanthus rate well as fire resistant plants due to the lush leaves with high moisture content. Low growing varieties are particularly good in this regard, forming a natural fire break.

‘Mini Me’ produces dainty sky blue flowers on very short stems just above the foliage.