Agapanthus: How to Grow this Lovely Flowering Border Plant

Are you looking for a colourful plant to help you define the borders of your garden in a spectacular way? In that case, the Agapanthus plant may be a very attractive choice. Originating from South Africa, the plant is known for its tall stems topped with abundant flowers with intense colours such as ivory, sky-blue, amethyst, and rosy pink.

Besides the many colours to choose from, the plant comes in a variety of sizes as well, ranging from 20cm for dwarf varieties to 2 meters for the giant Agapanthus species. Due to being available in various heights and growing densely, the Agapanthus can be used as a lovely border for walkways, driveways, garden beds as well as a general hedge plant around the home. So, if you're considering adding the attractive hues of Agapanthus to your garden, here's all you need to know.

Site Requirements

First of all, before planting you need to check whether your property can provide the necessary conditions for Agapanthus to thrive. This is an Exotic plant, native to Africa, which means that it needs to be planted in well-drained but moisture-retentive soil. If your soil is heavy, mix in some grit or add a porous organic mix consisting of peat moss and perlite in order to increase drainage. It also requires a spot in full sun or at least partial shade. Because the plant is known as fire-retardant due to its ability to slow down a fire's progress, giant Agapanthus hedges are commonly planted around homes in areas prone to bushfires.

Propagation

Agapanthus planting is recommended to take place around fall or winter in warm climates such as Australia. This allows the plant to grow enough to start flowering during the summer. The different plants should be planted about 60cm apart and 2.5cm deep in the ground. The plant can be propagated in two ways: by seeds or by division of the clump. When grown by seed, it can take some time for the plant to be established.

Watering & Fertilization

The thick, fleshy leaves of the Agapanthus make it an unbelievably drought-resistant plant. But although it might not require frequent watering, a little extra care can go a long way in certain situations. When temperatures go extremely high in the summer, watering your Agapanthus may prevent it from drying out. Although it's not necessary to fertilize your plant, providing it with some additional nutrients can reward you with a flood of vibrant flowers. When fertilizing, make sure to do so in early spring and stick to a granular fertilizer with a ratio of 6-12-6 or 5-10-5. Additionally, adding mulch in autumn can protect the plant during the clod.