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"Possibility and promise greet me each day as I walk out into my garden. My vigor is renewed when I breathe in the earthiness and feel the dirt between my fingers. My garden is a peaceful spot to refresh my soul." Meems






Welcome to my Central Florida Garden Blog where we garden combining Florida natives, Florida-Friendly plants, and tropicals.

Friday, June 1, 2012

Agapanthus Admirer Alert


Every year it's the same. When the stalks of Agapanthus (Agapanthus orientalis, lily-of-the-Nile, African lily, African blue lily) begin to shoot up into the air from the midst of their strappy, clumping, evergreen foliage my heart does a little leap inside my chest. And that's even before the first sign of blue-hued petals have begun to display their pom-pom-shaped clusters of individual trumpets.

This season they started blooming early like most of the flowering perennials/shrubs have done so far. Everything in Central Florida was given a head start with warm weather descending on us ahead of schedule.

In case you don’t know it yet, Agapanthus holds a highly-favored status in my list of must-have plants. It bears a mention and is not an overstatement that it ranks at the top of the six plants I can’t live without.

In an effort to include them in almost every planting area in my garden, I have multiplied Agapanthus by dividing rhizomes and transplanting them as well as purchasing additional ones each spring. I refer to them affectionately as aggies, although I hesitate to abbreviate the fun-to-say word, Agapanthus. Go ahead and say it. I don't mind sharing my fun with you. Ag-uh-PANTH-us. There now. Wasn't that fun!

In my garden they grow in mostly high-shifting light and shady areas. Last week there was quite a discussion about the various conditions in which they grow best over on my Hoe and Shovel FACEBOOK Page (click over and LIKE the page to leave your own comment).  After that discourse I was paying very close attention to the many places I saw them blooming around town. There were several instances where they were clumped together in a situation providing them with a great deal of sun, much to my surprise. My own observation is that the foliage never looks quite as healthy or vibrant in those circumstances. But the plants were blooming just fine.

Suffice to say Agapanthus are highly adaptable in a number of conditions; they are showy when blooming, cold hardy in winter and drought tolerant in summer. (If you'd like to read what the experts say about them click on this link for the UF edis document.)

My fan meter is off the charts for them. They add so much structure and texture in my planting beds year round. Tell me your Agapanthus story. Have you found them to be happy in sun, shade, or both?

Happy June gardening,
Meems

14 comments:

  1. OH! Ah! WOW! Geez! Sweet!

    I'm at a loss for adjectives! I adore agapanthus. Sigh.

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  2. Beautiful, they are blooming all over S. Florida, and in my list of must have.

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  3. Mine have not yet started blooming. I have them planted in the front by the mailbox and in the back right out in the open. They are one of my all-time favorite blooms. I remember the first time I spied them in a neighbor's yard, I had to ask what they were, as I was mesmerized.
    Thanks for sharing yours until mine are ready to pop!!!

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  4. wish I could grow them...they are not hardy here but I have seen a few in pots...they are a fav of mine that I wish I could grow.

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  5. Wow- how pretty- I bought about 30 of them to plant along side the blank wall of my house and wasn't sure what they would look like- , but so far all they have is pretty dark green spike leaves- I think mine are suppose to be white- they get a lot of morning and afternoon sun ( and I have been watering them faithfully )

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  6. Wow- how pretty- I bought about 30 of them to plant along side the blank wall of my house and wasn't sure what they would look like- , but so far all they have is pretty dark green spike leaves- I think mine are suppose to be white- they get a lot of morning and afternoon sun ( and I have been watering them faithfully )

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  7. Beautiful plants, alas they dont really thrive for us, we have a number of small plants that return every year but never get any bigger!

    Gaz: Alternative Eden

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  8. Your Agapanthas are so happy in your garden. I have expanded my one clump into three or four now but only got two blooms this year. I think they need to settle in again. I've found that they need some shade in my garden. I tried some in full sun (which I don't have much) but the plant wasn't happy at all. You've convinced me I need to have more :)

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  9. I have severe agapanthus envy. I do not have any, but I am seeing them everywhere and they are so spectacular in bloom. I am now considering removing my crinum lilies in favor of these.

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  10. I should consider adding them to my garden. Our rainy season has just started though so maybe I will have to wait a bit or seedlings will just drown.

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  11. I loved agapanthus for three years in California and miss them here in Spokane. I didn't mind if they graced every strip mall planting bed. Glad to hear you love them, too!

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  12. I just noticed mine have started to bloom too. It seems like I've waited an eternity to see them, but they are worth it.

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  13. They are just beautiful! I wonder if they grow in zone six? I will have to check that out. LOL!

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  14. Thanks to your pictures which always stir my interest, I have purchased a couple of these on e-bay from a woman who grows them. I can't wait to put them in. Thank you for the growing suggestions!

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Have a blessed day,
Meems


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