Agapanthus is one of the most planted perennials in Australia. It is tough, drought hardy and flowers reliably every summer, and in some districts it has also spread from gardens into bushland. This guide covers how to choose a variety, where and how to plant it, how to keep it flowering, and how to grow it responsibly.
What agapanthus is
Agapanthus, also sold as lily of the Nile or African lily, comes from southern Africa. It forms a clump of strappy leaves from fleshy roots and sends up round heads of blue, purple or white flowers on bare stems from late spring through summer. Most kinds sold here are evergreen. The fleshy roots store water, which is why an established clump shrugs off a dry summer.
Choosing a variety
| Type | Height in flower | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Dwarf, such as Peter Pan | About 50 cm | Edging, pots and small gardens |
| Compact white, such as Snowball | About 60 cm | Borders and massed planting; white shows up at dusk |
| Dark flowered, such as Black Magic | About 80 cm | Deep purple, near black buds; a feature among paler flowers |
| Tall blue and white | 1 m and more | Driveways, banks and the back of a border |
For a low edge, the dwarf kinds do the same job as the plants in our roundup of low growing plant ideas for borders.
Read this before planting agapanthus
Agapanthus has naturalised widely, spreading by seed into bushland, roadsides and coastal reserves. It is regarded as an environmental weed in parts of Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania, and a number of councils ask residents not to plant it near bushland.
- Check with your council first if you are near bushland, a reserve, a creek line or the coast. Requirements vary and change.
- Deadhead before seed sets. Cutting the spent flower heads off before they ripen stops the seed spread, and it takes minutes.
- Choose sterile or low seed cultivars where they are offered. Several modern selections set little or no viable seed.
- Do not dump clippings or divisions in bushland or over a back fence. Put seed heads in the bin, not the compost.
In an inner suburban garden surrounded by paving and lawn, deadheaded agapanthus is a low risk. On a block backing onto a reserve, choose something else.
Where it grows in Australia
| Location | How it performs |
|---|---|
| Melbourne, Adelaide, Canberra, Tasmania | Very well, and this is where the weed concern is greatest |
| Sydney and coastal NSW | Very well; naturalised in some coastal and mountain areas |
| Perth | Grows well in sandy soil with some summer water |
| Brisbane and south east Queensland | Grows, though flowering is lighter in humid subtropical conditions |
| Dry inland | Drought hardy once established |
That tolerance of dry spells puts it with the other drought tolerant plants for a Brisbane garden.
Planting
- Sun. Full sun gives the most flowers. Part shade is fine in hot districts; deep shade gives leaves and little else.
- Soil. Almost any soil that drains, including poor and sandy ground. The roots rot only where water sits.
- Spacing. Set dwarf kinds 30 to 40 cm apart and tall kinds 50 to 60 cm apart for a continuous row.
- Water. Water weekly through the first summer. After that, a clump in the ground needs water only in a long dry spell.
Care and keeping it in flower
- Feed once in early spring with a general slow release fertiliser.
- Cut every flower stem at the base as it finishes, before the seed ripens.
- Pull away old yellow leaves in late winter. Snails shelter in the clumps, so check for them at the same time.
- Divide a congested clump after flowering, every four or five years, using a spade or an old saw. Divisions may skip a year before flowering again.
- Wear gloves. The sap irritates skin, and the plant is harmful if eaten.
A clump that will not flower is usually in too much shade, recently divided, or overfed with nitrogen. Our guide to why your plant isn't blooming works through the causes in order, and our notes on long lasting blooms cover deadheading and feeding in more detail. With that little care, agapanthus sits with the other low maintenance plants that practically take care of themselves.
Where to use it
- Driveways and paths. A single row of one variety, evenly spaced.
- Banks. The dense roots hold soil on a slope.
- Pools. Agapanthus drops little litter and takes reflected heat, as our guide to pool area screening options explains.
- Pots. Dwarf kinds flower well when slightly crowded in a pot, and our list of small space plants for balconies suggests what to grow beside them.
Alternatives without the weed question
If you want strappy foliage and a flower spike near bushland, these do the job:
- Dianella, the native flax lily, with blue flowers and berries, in sun or dry shade.
- Lomandra, with no showy flower, but hard to beat for massed planting.
- Dietes, not native but evergreen, with flowers through the warm months.
- Kangaroo paw, with tall flower spikes that bring in honeyeaters.
Common questions
When does agapanthus flower in Australia?
From late spring through summer, with the main show around December and January.
Why is my agapanthus not flowering?
Too much shade is the usual cause. Recent division and heavy nitrogen feeding are the others.
Is agapanthus a weed?
In parts of southern Australia, yes, where it seeds into bushland. Deadheading stops the spread, and gardens beside reserves are better planted with dianella or lomandra.
Is agapanthus poisonous?
The sap can irritate skin and the plant is harmful if eaten, so wear gloves when dividing and keep pets from chewing it.
Ready to plant?
Browse the flowering plants for colour collection for agapanthus and its companions.
If you are ordering these online, read what to do when your plants arrive first. The first two days after delivery matter more than the first two months.
