Have you ever grown agapanthus peak ?
The grim , majestic , white , or bicolored efflorescence originate on three - feet - tall stem above the lance - like leaves , and these plants a garden fixture in places like Mexico , Jamaica , and warm parts of the United States – though they ’re native to South Africa .
Also commonly known as “ African lily ” or “ lily of the Nile , ” agapanthus plants are n’t lily at all but are grandiloquent recurrent flowers in theAgapanthusgenus .
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In ourguide to growing agapanthus , we discuss how to cultivate these refined plants in the garden . But what if you do n’t have space ? Try turn them in container or else !
In this clause , I ’ll cover how to care for these colored flush in pots and container , so you’re able to make for a tropic look to your patio , pack of cards , or court garden .
Here ’s the batting order :
What You’ll Learn
Getting Started
Before we get establish , here are a few things toknow about agapanthus . They ’re part of theAmaryllidaceae home , which includesdaffodils , cosmetic alliums , andamaryllis .
This menage has three subfamilies : Allioideae , Amaryllidoideae , and Agapanthoideae . Can you guess which one our lovely plant belongs to ?
That ’s right : the subfamily Agapanthoideae , which has just one genus – Agapanthus . Within this genus there are six to 10 unlike species , and the most popular and wide grow are : A. africanus , A. praecox , A. orientalis , andA. inapertus .
Dozens of cultivar and hybrids in shades of blue , violet , and white have been cultivated by plant breeders from these four species , allow peck of choice for the base nurseryman .
Some species and cultivars are evergreen and are suitable for growing inUSDA Hardiness Zones8 - 10 , while others are deciduous and intrepid to Zone 6 .
Others are semi - evergreen which mean they can be either evergreen or deciduous base on the Zone they are grown in . They may be evergreen in evergreen in Zones 8 - 10 but deciduous in Zones 6 - 7 .
We ’ll ensure to point out which is which when we list a couple of our favorite cultivars for container - growing below .
This tenacious plant spreads easily via fleshy rhizome in ideal weather condition and is supererogatory - insubordinate to pests and disease , which run some nurseryman to consider it a weed . But on the flip side , it ’s extremely ardour - repellent , so it ’s an ideal plant life for those in fervidness - prone areas .
A Note of Caution
Agapanthus is toxic to humans and animal , so keep curious pets and minor aside from it , and do not ingest any part of the plant . The sap from broken farewell can also cause allergic skin reaction in some mass .
Why Grow in a Container?
Aside from lack of blank space , one reason to grow this well naturalize flora is that when it ’s in a mountain , you do n’t have to worry about it spreading and taking over your garden .
Plus , if you last in Zones 5 or 6 , you could easily bring your agapanthus at heart for the wintertime or into a sheltered field where they ’ll be protect from the component .
Agapanthus makes a delightful addition to a colorful container garden , with its lance - alike foliation and tall , globe - like flower .
Choosing the Right Container
Agapanthus loosely grow to between 18 column inch to four groundwork tall and one to three base wide-cut , depending on the cultivar .
For a single , orotund plant , or two to three smaller , new one , choose a container that ’s at least 12 inches in diam and eight to 12 inch deep .
Agapanthus produces more blooms if it ’s a little bit root bound , so do n’t worrytoomuch about the size . Even if you put them in a slimly large pot , they ’ll grow into it ( recollect how I cite that they fuck to scatter ? ) and produce heyday .
However , if the pot is too big , they may produce an teemingness of leaf and fewer bloom in the first year , before the roots have had a opportunity to fill the space .
Agapanthus are most commonly sold as untested flora in small pots from a nursery or garden shopping centre . Let the current pot your agapanthus is growing in be your templet : If you buy a three - gallon potted plant , choose a container that ’s four to five gallons , alternatively , range more than one plant in a larger sens .
These plants look adorable in terra cotta pots , but these can be heavy to move . If you want to expend terra cotta , consider investing in a rolling cart to help move the container from place to blank space .
A lighter container works well , too . I use a 12 - inch - diameter ceramic mess availablefrom the Home Depot .
Rivage 12 - inch Ceramic Pot
This container has drainage holes and an attached drainage cup of tea so that water does n’t leak out all over your trading floor should you choose to fetch the plant indoors in the cool month .
Any plastic , metal , or stone container can work for your agapanthus as long as it ’s got drainage pickle . I prefer not to use pots that taper too much towards the root , so that it does n’t fall over in windy experimental condition .
Combined with a wide-eyed base , the thick , low - growing foliage tend to aid balance the container and keep it from toppling over .
Preparing Your Container
Even though agapanthus plant are n’t terribly particular about the dirt they are acquire in , ideally it should be loose , organically - plentiful , and well - draining with a pH of between 5.5 - 7.0 . Well - enfeeble soil is crucial , as these plant ca n’t stand pissed metrical foot .
you could apply a mix of loamy dirt and compost , orcommercial potting soilwith the addition of some builder ’s sand to ameliorate the drainage as needed .
I use Miracle - Grow Potting Mix , usable at Home Depot .
Miracle - Grow Potting Mix
Before you fill your container , check that you clean and disinfect it if it ’s been used before to forbid the spread of disease .
When you receive your flora in the mail or bring it home from the shop , dig a yap as mystifying and wide of the mark as the original pot , remove the works , and lay it deep down .
Leave an inch or so of space between the top of the soil and the rim of your container , to forestall piddle escape off the surface .
Backfill with your selected potting premix , tamp down it down to remove pockets of gentle wind , then water thoroughly .
How to Grow
For an abundance of blooms , agapanthus prefers afull sun location . The plants will tolerate part shade , but may not flower quite so prolifically .
aim the container in an country that receives six to eight hours of sunlight every sidereal day . If you hold up in a red-hot , dry country in Zone 9 or 10 , consider a spot that gets a bit of light afternoon spectre to serve prevent the plant life from overheating .
Mulchwith straw or barque chips to help lock up wet in and keep the container ’s temperature consistent . During the first yr , set aside just the top inch of grease to dry out out between lachrymation .
control the dirt with your finger every two to three days to ensure you do n’t get it get too dry . think back that ground in container typically dries out quicker than land in the garden , particularly if you are using a pot made from a poriferous material such as terra cotta .
When the plant life is ground , it ’s somewhat drouth tolerant , so you’re able to let the top three inches dry out between watering . In ecumenical , seek to avoid overhead irrigation and piss at the base of the plant to avoid damp conditions that can lead to fungal infections .
To encourage more blossom , apply a mellow - phosphorus fertilizer once in the spring and again in midsummer harmonize to package teaching .
I use Dr. Earth ’s 4 - 10 - 7 ( NPK ) Slow Release Flower Girl fertiliser , available from the Home Depot .
Dr. Earth Flower Girl Fertilizer
Avoid using fertilizer that ’s high in nitrogen , as this will advertise the growth of slew of foliage and few flower .
These works do n’t need much in the fashion of pruning . Simply cut off the spent flowers at the theme of the stalks during the growing season .
If you are grow deciduous multifariousness , you ’ll need to skip them back to about four in above the land after the blooming time of year , when the leaf has drop dead back . In the case of evergreen type , all you involve to do is remove any confused or dead leaves , and drop flower stems .
evergreen plant coinage and cultivar are tender , so you ’ll need to move your plant to a frost - free locationduring the winter months .
you may consider moving it to a cheery point in the greenhouse or indoors next to a bright window . The temperature in the way or greenhouse should n’t drop below 50 ° F .
urine thinly once a week or so , or when the top three inch of soil dry out . you may move the works back outside when temperatures remain systematically above 50 ° farad .
In the case of the more hardy deciduous varieties that go dormant during the wintertime month , you could leave them outside . In Zones 6 - 7 , mulch with straw to protect them from sudden temperature change , or consider moving your plants into a service department or shed to keep them safe from the elements .
Water them just often enough to keep the soil from becoming completely dry out – once every two weeks or so .
Every two to three years , you may need to repot your flora into slenderly bombastic containers because although they like being a bit root bound , they ’ll appreciate a new pot mix and a bit more way to grow . As a regulation of ovolo , aim to repot into a container that ’s two inches large in diam than the exist flowerpot .
Fall is a good time to separate large specimens . To learn how to do this , check out ourguide to dividing perennial .
Growing Tips
Cultivars to Select
Thanks to their compact size of it , here are two of my favored cultivars for container - growing .
you could also mature orotund agapanthus in container as well , though – so check out our roundup of25 agapanthus varietiesto find your favorite !
Indigo Frost
Do you dream of an lily of the Nile that delights the eye with not just one colour , but two ? Then ‘ Indigo Frost ’ is the cultivar for you . This cultivate cross is a cross betweenA. praecoxandA. campanulatus .
The delicate white bloom petals give means to lavender throat , creating a bedazzle consequence in your container garden .
‘ Indigo Frost ’
Even better , it blooms throughout the summer . ‘ Indigo Frost ’ grows just 18 - 24 inches tall and panoptic – a perfect fit for smaller spate .
This cultivar is evergreen plant in Zones 8 - 10 and deciduous in Zones 6 and 7 .
you could find one - gallon potted plant for saleonline at Nature Hills Nursery .
Lily of the Nile
ThisA. africanuscultivar gas glossy , glowering - dark-green leaves and violet flowers that rebloom copiously throughout the summer . To encourage reblooming , verify you deadhead spend bloomsregularly .
Like ‘ Indigo Frost , ’ ‘ Lily of the Nile ’ is a thickset variety that grows just 18 - 24 inch tall and wide .
‘ Lily of the Nile ’
This evergreen plant cultivar is fearless to Zones 8 - 10 .
Find plants in three - gal potsavailable at the Home Depot .
Managing Pests and Disease
You really do n’t have to care about gadfly and disease with these baffling plant life . They ’re poisonous torabbitsand extremely untempting todeer .
As long as you avoid watering the leaf or get the container sit out in the rain for Clarence Shepard Day Jr. on end , you could parry common fungal problem likepowdery mildew , botrytis , and anthracnose .
Slugs and snailsmight find your plants attractive , but they ’ll have a slightly harder time climbing into a container .
Still , keep your center out for those telling holes and do n’t hesitate to put down Slug Gone Wool Pellets in the container , according to software book of instructions .
Slug Gone Wool Pellets
These pellet just slow up the slugs down and dissuade them from coming to your container – they do n’t in reality kill the pests . Plus , they ’re safe to apply around children and darling .
you’re able to find oneself Slug Goneavailable at Arbico Organics .
If your industrial plant do arise problem , you could say aboutidentifying and treating agapanthus disease here .
Best Uses
What I love about growing these perennial in container is that they are so various .
you may delineate a sunny walkway with several potted , nodding agapanthus , or put them on a lustrous porch , like I do .
Why not create a coloured display on your terrace with a combining of annual and perennial flowers in complemental or contrast colors ?
The magniloquent stems of agapanthus make an ideal focal full stop in gay corners in a courtyard garden or the turning point of an apartment balcony .
If you ’ve got a pot that puts out mass of flowers , they make great cut flowers as well . Simply snub the long stems at an slant and bring them indoors to brighten your aliveness outer space .
tot up somehomemade blossom foodand enjoy the blooms for six to 12 days . To keep them fresh longer , trim the ends , add together more food , and refill the vase with fresh water every few days .
Aga-pot-thus
These flowers are idealistic for growing in containers , they provide long - lived foliage and cheerful blooms , and they wo n’t disperse baseless in your garden when potted up .
check that you provide them with plenty of temperateness , well - draining soil , and protect evergreen types from winter ’s shiver and you ’ll enjoy their orb - comparable blossoms class after yr . What ’s not to like ?
And for morecolorful flowersto bestow to your container garden , check out these guidebook next :
© Ask the Experts , LLC . ALL right field RESERVED.See our TOSfor more item . Product pic via Arbico Organics , Dr. Earth , Miracle - Gro , and Nature Hills Nursery . Uncredited exposure : Shutterstock . With additional writing and redaction by Clare Groom .
About
Laura Ojeda Melchor
