Agapanthus umbellatus

Agapanthus umbellatus (28/07/2014, Botanique National de Brest, France)

Position: Full sun

Soil: Well drained soil

Flowering period: Mid to late summer

Eventual Height: 1.2m

Eventual Spread: 60cm

Hardiness: 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a

Family: Amaryllidaceae

Agapanthus umbellatus is an evergreen perennial with a clump forming habit. Its dark green leaves composed of basal, linear leaves with simple margin. Its dark blue hermaphrodite flowers are tubular, arranged as rounded terminal umbles, up to 20cm across on upright stems. Its fruit are a three sided capsule which contain black shiny seeds. Its roots are rhizomes which aids its spread.

Agapanthus umbellatus Flower (28/07/2014, Botanique National de Brest, France)

Agapanthus umbellatus, commonly known as the Lily of the Nile, Blue Giant African Lily is native to South Africa. In its native habitat it grows on moist grassland and slope.

The etymological root of the binomial name Agapanthus is derived from the Greek agap meaning ‘love’ and anthos meaning ‘flower’. Umbellatus is derived from the Latin umbella meaning ‘parasol’, in reference to the flower arrangement.

Agapanthus umbellatus ‘Ovatus’ Flower (15/08/2015, Kew Gardens, London)

Agapanthus umbellatus may be useful to the landscape architect as a herbaceous perennial in maritime locations. Once established this plant is drought tolerant for short periods of time.

Ecologically,  Agapanthus umbellatus flowers are attractive to many species of pollinating insects.

Agapanthus umbellatus Leaf (28/07/2014, Botanique National de Brest, France)

Agapanthus umbellatus prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil.

Agapanthus umbellatus requires little maintenance. The plant may be cut back in autumn, if desired. They may be propagated from offsets or by dividing the rootstock in early spring or autumn.

Agapanthus praecox

Agapanthus praecox Flower (28/07/2012, Kew Gardens, London)

Position: Full sun

Flowering period: Summer

Soil: Moist, well drained

Eventual Height: 1m

Eventual Spread: 60cm

Hardiness: 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b

Family: Amaryllidaceae

Agapanthus praecox is an evergreen, clump forming herbaceous perennial. Its mid green leaves are strap like, are variable and appear in groups of up to 20 per plant. Its blue flowers are umbellata and appear on a stalk above the leaves. Its fruit are a three sided capsule which contain black shiny seeds which readily germinate. Its roots are rhizomes which aids its spread.

Agapanthus praecox, commonly known as the Common Agapanthus, African Lilly, Lilly of the Nile or Blue Lilly, is native to South Africa. The planting and distribution of the plant is prohibited in New Zealand. The leaves, sap and rhizomes of this plant are toxic to humans.

The etymological root of the binomial name Agapanthus is derived from the Greek agap meaning ‘love’ and anthos meaning ‘flower’. Praecox is from the Latin meaning ‘premature’.

Agapanthus praecox (28/07/2012, Kew Gardens, London)

The landscape architect may find  Agapanthus praecox useful as part of a herbaceous or prairie type planting scheme, particularly in maritime locations. It looks fantastic when planted en mass. Care should be taken when locating this plant due to its potentially toxic nature.

Ecologically, Agapanthus praecox is attractive to pollinating insects.

Agapanthus praecox prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil. It will tolerate poor soils.

Agapanthus praecox requires little maintenance. Large clumps should be divided every four years, just after flowering.

 

Zantedeschia aethiopica

Zantedeschia aethiopica Flower (28/04/2012, London)

Position: Full sun to partial shade

Flowering period: Spring to Autumn

Soil: Moist, well drained

Eventual Height: 1m

Eventual Spread: 60cm

Hardiness: 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11

Family: Araceae

Zantedeschia aethiopica is a semi-evergreen herbaceous, perennial. Its mid green glossy leaves are simple, arrow shaped with entire margins, up to 45 cm long,  and they are arranged alternately along the stems. Its white solitary flowers appear in spathes, are funnel shaped with a prominent yellow spadix and up to 10cm long. Its fruit appears in the form of a red berry. Its roots are rhizomatous.

Zantedeschia aethiopica (28/04/2012, London)

Zantedeschia aethopica, commonly known as Lily of the Nile, Arum Lilly, Calla Lily, Easter Lilly and Varkoor, is native to the south of the African continent. The Crowborough variety is a more cold tolerant cultivar. Linnaeus named this plant Calla aethiopica in 1753, hence one of its common names. This was amended to Zantedeschia aethopica in 1826.

The etymological root of the binomial name Zantedeschia is named after Professor Francesco Zantedeschia (1773-1846) a Century Italian priest and scientist. Aethiopica is a name derived from the Greek meaning ‘of Africa’ or ‘the land of the burnt faces’. 

The landscape architect may find Zantedeschia aethopica useful in lush, bold planting schemes.

Zantedeschia aethiopica Leaf (28/04/2012, London)

Ecologically, Zantedeschia aethopica is attractive to bees an pollinating insects.

The Royal Horticultural Society has given Zantedeschia aethopica  their prestigious Award of Garden Merit in 1993.

Zantedeschia aethopica prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil. It prefers wet soils.

Zantedecia aethopica requires little maintenance. Large clumps may be divided in spring.