Practical
Plants

Agapanthus africanus

African Lily

an evergreen member of the Agapanthus genus in the family Alliaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Family
Alliaceae
Foliage
evergreen
Height
1 m
Spread
0.5 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Cardiac, stomachic[6].

Product or use
Cardiac
Product or use
Stomachic

Environment

Range
S. Africa.
Habitat
Upper slopes of Table mountain and the southern mountains[7].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 9+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerances
high wind, maritime exposure
Wind
Yes
Maritime
Yes
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - best sown in a greenhouse as soon as it is ripe[4], it can also be sown in a greenhouse in March/April[2]. The seed usually germinates in 1 - 3 months at 18°c[2], do not sow it too thickly so that it is possible to grow the seedlings on in their pot without disturbing them for their first year of growth. Give occasional liquid feeds to make sure they do not become nutrient deficient. Divide the seedlings up into individual pots in the spring following germination, grow them on for a further year in the greenhouse and then plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer. Seedlings take 2 - 3 years to flower[2]. Division of offsets in April/May. Do not move plants between October and March[3]. Division is very easy in the growing season, the divisions can be planed straight out into their permanent positions if required.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Succeed in most soils[3], but prefers a light very well-drained porous soil with plenty of leaf-mold[1][4]. Plants need to be kept moderately dry during the growing season but with moisture in winter[1]. They only flower freely if growing in a very sunny position[3]. Plants succeed in maritime gardens[5]. This species is not very hardy in Britain[1], but some forms of the plant tolerate several degrees of frost[4]. They are best given a good mulch if temperatures lower than 0°c occur[4]. Plants are growing well at the foot of a wall in Cambridge Botanical Gardens[K]. Hybridizes very freely with other members of this genus, some botanists say there is only one very variable species of Agapanthus[4]. Plants seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[5]. The flowering stems lean towards the sun[3].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  2. Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 1. Thompson and Morgan. 1987-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  3. Bird. R. (Editor) Focus on Plants. Volume 5. (formerly 'Growing from seed') Thompson and Morgan. 1991-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  4. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  5. Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0 460 86048 8

    ↩1↩2

  6. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩

  7. Adamson. and Salter. Flora of the Cape Peninsula.

    ↩

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