Arabic lilies enchant with their beautiful flowers. We show what is important when planting and what you have to consider when caring for the Agapanthus in terms of fertilizing and watering.
The African lily (Agapanthus) fits into any garden with space for a large flower pot. It forms large, impressive flowers and is still easy to care for. If the popular tub plant is properly watered, fertilized and overwintered, it can live for many years and decorate our terraces, balconies and gardens with its impressive flowers for a long time. In this article we will therefore tell you everything you need to know about caring for African lilies: from the origin and recommended varieties to professional planting to caring for and propagating Agapanthus.
Agapanthus: Origin and Properties
Agapanthus belongs to the Amaryllis family (Amaryllidaceae). They occur naturally only in southern Africa, where their range extends from the coast to the mountains. Since the South African climate differs from that in Central Europe in many respects, the African lily is usually cultivated as a container plant in Germany.
The African lily grows as a perennial that is evergreen or deciduous depending on the species it originates from. Rhizomes are formed as outlasting organs. The simple, parallel-veined leaves are basal, sessile and grow like clumps. The spherical flower umbels are composed of mostly blue, violet or white colored individual flowers. Depending on the variety, the flower of the African lily differs not only in color but also in shape, which can also be bell-shaped.
In midsummer between the end of June and September, planted Agapanthus
rewards us with its large umbelliferous flowers.Agapanthus varieties
Three species of Agapanthus can be found here as ornamental plants: A. africanus, A. campanulatus and A. praecox. There are several hundred different onesVarieties bred from these 3 species. Depending on the species of origin, the flowers are shaped and colored differently. There are also species-hybrids of the African lily, which are the result of crossing the species.
Agapanthus africanus:
- 'Angela': violet-blue, funnel-shaped flower; evergreen
- 'Blue Giant': Deep blue flowers; evergreen
- 'Northern Star': Strong, dark blue flowers; summer green
- 'Sunfield': Small stature, funnel-shaped, light blue flowers; summer green
- 'Twister': White flowers with a blue base; summer green
Agapanthus - Hybrid:
- 'Black Buddhist': Large, purple-blue flowers; summer green
- 'Silver Baby': white flowers with only slightly blue petal tips, small variety of only 60 cm in height
Agapanthus campanulatus:
- 'Wendy': White flowers, 40 cm high, deciduous (withers in winter)
Agapanthus praecox:
- 'Albus': funnel-shaped, white flowers; summer green
Planting agapanthus: location and procedure
All Agapanthus species come from South Africa and are therefore by no means hardy in our country. Without exception, they are cultivated here in cool Central Europe as container plants that spend the summer outdoors and have to be overwintered frost-free in winter.
A sunny spot should be chosen for the pot of the African lily, as it loves light and warmth as a true South African. Bright, semi-shady spots are also possible, but there should be at least a few hours of sun a day. It is also advisable that the site is sheltered from the wind.
Tip: The African lily tolerates transplanting poorly and punishes rough treatment with the loss or a severe reduction in flowering. It is therefore advisable to be careful when planting in order to delay transplanting as long as possible.
The right location for Agapanthus at a glance:
- Planting without exception in tubs, overwintering frost-free
- Location as sunny and warm as possible
- Sheltered
Usually only one plant is planted per pot, because the large perennials take up a lot of space. But if you want to plant very large tubs with a surface area of one square meter,can also put two plants in it. The planting distance should be 70 cm.
The best time for planting is March or April, i.e. just before the Agapanthus moves in the pot to a sunny spot in the garden or on the balcony. Evergreen species of Agapanthus are planted with foliage, while herbaceous, deciduous species are just emerging at the time of planting. If you plant leafless onions in winter, you should make sure that they are quite deep: they can be planted up to 20 cm below the surface of the ground.
The African lily needs potting soil that retains moisture well, because it loves fresh soil. Because it has a comparatively high nutrient requirement and should only rarely be transplanted, we recommend using compost soil instead of peat soil. Our Plantura organic potting soil is structurally stable due to the coconut fiber content and offers favorable and long-lasting aeration of the roots. In order to keep the soil structurally stable for a long time and to delay repotting even longer, the soil can be mixed with 30% expanded clay and enriched with clay powder.
In order to ensure the long-term supply of nutrients and to disturb the African lily as little as possible by replanting, an organic long-term fertilizer should be used directly when planting. For example, 250 to 300 grams of our Plantura organic flower fertilizer can be mixed into a large bucket with an Agapanthus .
The planter of the African lily should have a drainage hole so that the water can drain off easily. Ideally, a layer of expanded clay, gravel or pottery shards at least 3 cm thick is distributed on the bottom of the bucket and covered with fabric or fleece so that the drainage layer does not mix with the potting soil.
Step-by-step instructions: How to plant Agapanthus?
- Time: March/April
- 1 to a maximum of 2 plants in a pot with 1 m² surface.
- At least 3 cm drainage layer in the planter, cover with fabric or fleece.
- Structurally stable potting soil that stores moisture and nutrients well, can be mixed with 30% expanded clay for longer structural stability.
- Use organic long-term fertilizer when planting, for example Plantura organic flower fertilizer.
- Bulb of Agapanthus Plant a maximum of 20 cm deep or so that the green foliage is above the soil surface.
- Water well.
Caring for Agapanthus
Basically, the African lily is a veryeasy-care plant that grows quickly and vigorously without much effort. During flowering, however, it reacts sensitively to changes and should not be moved then if possible - especially not to a location with less light. Otherwise, a change of location is not a problem. The plant should also be repotted as rarely as possible, but only when the substrate in the bucket is completely densely rooted. Pests are usually not a problem with African lilies in the home garden, since snails and caterpillars are not interested in the leaves. There is also hardly any fungal or bacterial infestation. Depending on whether you have an evergreen or a deciduous Agapanthus variety at home, there are some peculiarities, especially during the winter. You can read detailed instructions on overwintering African lilies here.
Fertilize agapanthus
Here, too, Agapanthus proves to be an uncomplicated plant that makes no special demands on its fertilization. Complete fertilizers with a balanced NPK ratio and an adequate supply of minerals are ideal. Our Plantura organic flower fertilizer is particularly suitable here, as it provides the plant with all the necessary nutrients for three months as a slow-release fertiliser. For vigorous flowering, the African lily should be fertilized from April until it begins to bloom. In this way, with the Plantura organic flower fertilizer, one application in spring and one additional fertilization in summer before flowering is completely sufficient.
Watering agapanthus
Agapanthus reacts much more sensitively to too much water than to little. From April you should water it regularly and sufficiently. The substrate in the pot should be moist, but never wet. It is only necessary to water the African lily again when the upper third in the bucket feels completely dry. However, since Agapanthus can store water in its fleshy rhizome, it can survive several weeks without water. It needs little or no watering over the winter months from November to March.
Summary: How to care for Agapanthus correctly:
- Do not change location during flowering
- Pests and diseases largely spare the African lily
- Agapanthus Fertilize correctly: basic fertilization with a fertilizer with long-term organic effect when planting
- First fertilization in April
- Second fertilization in summer before flowering
- Better to water too little than too much
- Avoid waterlogging
- Agapanthus much in winterwater moderately
Propagating agapanthus
The African lily can be propagated relatively easily using offshoots. This is useful, for example, if it has become too big for its previous plant pot anyway and needs to be repotted. The root ball can then be cut into several pieces with a sharp garden tool (a spade may also be necessary depending on the size). Each piece of root is planted in its own new pot.
Another way to agapanthus self-propagation is to let the fruit ripen and harvest the seeds. In both cases, however, it will take some time before the African lily blooms again.
Is agapanthus poisonous?
Basically, Agapanthus is not poisonous, but intensive contact with the plant sap can lead to skin irritation. However, the rhizome is poisonous to humans and animals when eaten. Therefore, gloves should be worn when propagating the plant.
In order to have your African lily for as long as possible, it is essential to overwinter it properly. You can read all about overwintering Agapanthus in our dedicated article on the subject.