Practical
Plants

Agapanthus praecox minimus

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

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Family
Alliaceae
Foliage
evergreen
Height
0.9 m
Spread
0.6 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Edible uses

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

Root[4]. No further details.

Plant part
Root

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[8].

Product or use
Cardiac
Product or use
Stomachic

Environment

Range
S. Africa.
Habitat
Not known
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[6], 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.

Succeeds in most soils[3] but it prefers a light very well-drained porous soil with plenty of leaf-mould[6]. Requires plenty of moisture during the growing season but it needs to be kept dry in the winter[1][6]. Another report says that it is drought resistant once established[5]. It only flowers freely if it is in a very sunny position[3]. Plants succeed in maritime gardens[7]. Probably not quite hardy outside the mildest areas of Britain, it is best if given a good mulch in the winter[1][6]. Hybridizes very freely with other members of this genus - some botanists say there is only one very variable species of Agapanthus[6]. Plants seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[7]. 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

  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. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩

  5. Chatto. B. The Dry Garden. Dent 1982-00-00 ISBN 0460045512

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

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

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩

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