Agapanthus x hybrida - Blue Umbrella Lily of the Nile

These beautiful and hardy plants are native to southern Africa. It becomes a very strong perennial for Zones 6-9. These grass-like clumps will usually grow between one and three feet. Their leaves are narrow and they are popular for their green foliage and long summer blooms. The leaves grow from the fleshy rhizome roots.

They are ideal for a background drop in flowerbeds and come in varying degrees of blue, purple, and white. Likewise, the flowers may be in clumps from one to 100.

The plant requires full sun if not at least half a day. They can thrive in conditions of neglect and on dry slopes and on the coast. They will tolerate most conditions of soil as long as they get water in the spring and in the summer. It is an excellent plant to naturalize, and can also be used as a container plant.

Propagation is usually done by division, however, with patience, seed can be sown in the fall and in the spring.

In cooler regions overwinter the agapanthus as a house plant in a sunny, yet cool window.

Publisher: Hirt's Gardens