Is Agapanthus blue a perennial or annual?
The Agapanthus Blue is a fast-growing perennial that can reach up to 3 feet (90 cm) in height and spread. It produces its deep blue flowers in mid- to late summer, and these remain until the end of the growing season. Deadheading Agapanthus could not be simpler: Identify blooms which have passed their peak and begun to fade. Snip off the spent blooms before they go to seed with sharp and clean secateurs, cutting off the stalks close to the base of the plant to keep things neat.Without deadheading, the plant goes to seed and the blooming season is shortened considerably. To deadhead agapanthus, simply use pruners or garden shears to remove the faded flower and the stalk at the base of the plant. Note: Agapanthus can become weedy and is considered invasive in some areas.Agapanthus can bring fresh shape to your cut flower garden. It will liven up a Florida-Friendly landscape by attracting hummingbirds and other pollinators. The blooms are absolutely unique and make a wonderful display in mass plantings.Pruning agapanthus dead heads at the base after they’ve flowered helps promote healthier plants and more abundant future blooms. This is because removing the old flowers stops the plant from putting energy into seed production, directing it towards new growth that benefits the plant’s health and beauty.Most agapanthus are hardy and their leaves die down in winter. Evergreen forms are more tender and usually need the shelter of a greenhouse from early winter to spring.
What to plant next to agapanthus?
Agapanthus look great when planted with drifts of ornamental grasses, sun-loving rudbeckias and goldenrod (Solidago). Most agapanthus are hardy and their leaves die down in winter. Evergreen forms are more tender and usually need the shelter of a greenhouse from early winter to spring. Agapanthus ‘Polar Ice’ is a slightly smaller, deciduous Agapanthus cultivar that has white flowers. Probably the hardiest Agapanthus – good if you are in a bad frost pocket. Almost looks like a woodland plant despite preferring full sun!Pink agapanthus This fast-growing perennial has narrow garlic-scented leaves and a large cluster of lilac flowers. Growing to around 60cm tall, this deciduous blossom is incredibly fragrant, and its leaves can be used in soups and salads.Agapanthus Pendulus is the darkest of all Agapanthus species and cultivars. A herbaceous variety which develops into nice sized clumps around 40cm high and wide. In Summer the developing flower spikes are topped by deep purple-blue tubular blooms which hang in pendant habit. Quite different to all other Agapanthus.Agapanthus ‘Navy Blue’ is our best selling Agapanthus, and with good reason – it is tough, it is upright, and it produces lots and lots of dark-navy-blue flowers for a long, long time. We seem to grow it everywhere – check it out next to Hydrangea ‘Annabelle’.
Will agapanthus survive winter?
Most evergreen agapanthus are frost hardy to -5°C. In cold areas, they’re best grown in pots so they can be wrapped in biodegradable or recycled fleece, or moved to a cold greenhouse. Most deciduous agapanthus are hardy to -10°C and can be grown in a border and mulched with chip bark in a particularly cold winter. Agapanthus plants are quite happy to be grown in pots. In fact, the evergreen types that are not fully hardy may be better off in containers so they can be protected from frost over winter in a cool greenhouse.Plant 60cm apart for tall varieties, and 30cm for dwarf varieties with the plant crown at soil level. When planting in pots, root congestion is not a major concern, as Agapanthus plants tend to respond quite well to this. When the roots have too much space, leaf growth will be encouraged rather than flower production.Avoid fertilizing your Agapanthus plants with high nitrogen fertilizers – use instead a balanced fertilizer such as 10-10-10 or 5-5-5, or slightly higher in phosphorus than nitrogen. Suspend any fertilizer to either potted or in-ground plants by late summer.Agapanthus are perfect for the beginner gardener as they require low maintenance and will grow without any fuss. They are hardy and are tolerant of drought and poor soil. They are ideal plants for borders, beside fences and along driveways.Agapanthus leaves can turn yellow due to overwatering, poor drainage, or lack of nutrients in the soil.
How quickly do agapanthus grow?
Agapanthus are easy to grow from seed and you may get flowering plants in as little as two years. Collect seed when the seedhead is becoming brown and the capsules are starting to burst. Image: Agapanthus will make large free-flowering clumps Use a good-sized container where they can be left for years; they are happy in pots even if their roots are constricted but don’t let them become completely root-bound; lift and divide them every few years.Agapanthus are easy to grow from seed and you may get flowering plants in as little as two years.Most agapanthus flower for around six weeks, while some cultivars have been selected to bloom for 10 to 12 weeks. Everpanthus, on the other hand, has an extra long blooming time – 17 weeks from spring right through to late summer!Agapanthus are easy to propagate by division to obtain plants identical to the parent plant, this is best done between spring and early summer. Avoid splitting plants too often as this will reduce flowering. Large clumps in the border should be lifted in spring every 4 – 6 years and replanted.Agapanthus Flowers These gorgeous plants produce masses of bright and colourful flowers in spring and summer, as well as sporadically throughout the year, including in mild winters as seen in 2020.
Does agapanthus spread?
Agapanthus has a root network that likes to spread, so starting in a larger pot will prevent the need to re-pot as often, or at all. You shouldn’t need to re-pot Agapanthus if it is in a larger container and don’t worry about it being root-bound either as Agapanthus remains healthy like this also. Agapanthus will not thrive on poor, thin, dry soils. Neither do they enjoy waterlogged soils. For this reason, if your garden is on the wet side, plant Agapanthus in containers. Agapanthus originates from South Africa, so you can be sure they like plenty of sun.Because agapanthus are such aggressive growers, they should be divided about every four or five years. For container-grown plants, divide in late summer after flowering. For plants grown outdoors, especially in the colder part of their range, delay division until the spring.Overcrowded plants should be re-potted in spring. Feeding – Agapanthus are quite hungry feeders. For best results apply a top dressing of our Agapanthus Plant Food to the surface of the soil. It is best applied first in March, then repeated in May and August.Grow all agapanthus in well-drained soil in full sun. Avoid planting in shade as they won’t flower much.
Where is the best place to plant agapanthus?
Agapanthus are sun-loving. So, whether you plant in borders or containers, make sure the location gets plenty of sun. Borders: Agapanthus do best in well-drained soil. You’ll need to dig a hole to approximately the same depth as the pot the plant was in when you bought it. Agapanthus perform best where root development is restricted, as restricted roots encourage flower formation. This makes agapanthus well suited to being grown in pots, especially the evergreen types which can then be brought into a conservatory or greenhouse for the winter.Avoid fertilizing your Agapanthus plants with high nitrogen fertilizers – use instead a balanced fertilizer such as 10-10-10 or 5-5-5, or slightly higher in phosphorus than nitrogen. Suspend any fertilizer to either potted or in-ground plants by late summer.Most Agapanthus bloom for around 6 weeks, however ‘Flower of Love’ has been specially bred to be much more floriferous than other varieties, for an incredible 10-12 weeks, starting around mid-July. Thick fleshy roots store fluid and nutrients to enable these low-maintenance plants to flourish in poor dry soils.Agapanthus plants thrive in well-drained soils, preferring full sun but also tolerating partial shade. Their resilience against drought, once established, further enhances their appeal.
What is the lifespan of an agapanthus?
Agapanthus praecox is a variable species with open-faced flowers. It is a perennial plant that can live for up to 75 years. The ideal growing condition for Agapanthus is a sheltered spot in full sun with good soil, which is not too dry and drains well.Agapanthus are sun-loving. So, whether you plant in borders or containers, make sure the location gets plenty of sun. Borders: Agapanthus do best in well-drained soil. You’ll need to dig a hole to approximately the same depth as the pot the plant was in when you bought it.That’s one of the reasons we love a bare root Agapanthus. They are a great way of quickly getting a large and established plant without spending a fortune. Whilst they might not look the prettiest thing on arrival don’t let that put you off.Although often said, agapanthus don’t actually flower better when pot-bound. It’s true they like to be cosy in their pot, flowering poorly when overpotted or over-divided, but they are also shy to flower when excessively pot-bound.I love agapanthus, they’re like alliums of the summer aren’t they, you know, sort of like great firework, crazy sparkler flowers, and they flower even longer than alliums, and their seedpods equally good, but of course unlike alliums which are bulbs, these are true perennials, this is a variety I adore called ‘Queen .