Agapanthus Black Pantha

Agapanthus 'Black Pantha' (Agapanthus 'Black Pantha') is the darkest of the common agapanthus, with near black buds that open to a deep violet blue. The foliage clump sits around 0.5m high and 0.6m across, and the flower stems lift the heads to about 1m through summer. It is the one to plant when the usual pale blue looks washed out.

Why you'll love it

• Colour with real depth. It holds its intensity far better than the older pale forms.
• It survives what most perennials will not. Frost hardy, drought tolerant, heat tolerant and salt tolerant, a rare combination in a flowering plant.
• Neat and evergreen. The clump stays tidy all year, so the bed does not go bare between flowerings.
• Bees and butterflies work it hard. Each head carries dozens of individual flowers over several weeks of summer nectar.

Where it works best

Mass planting. Plant 40cm apart for a solid block. The clumps knit within two seasons and the flower stems read as one sweep of colour rather than scattered dots.

Borders and edging. The consistent height suits a driveway or path edge. Set the row back 40cm from the hard edge so the foliage does not flop across it.

Pots and coastal gardens. It flowers better slightly root bound, so a 400mm pot suits it well, and it holds up in exposed seaside beds where softer perennials burn.

Growing Agapanthus Black Pantha in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun gives the most flower stems and the strongest colour; part shade produces more leaf and fewer heads. It suits subtropical, warm temperate, cool temperate and Mediterranean gardens, and it is frost hardy once established. Tropical gardens are harder, because constant humidity encourages crown rot.

Soil. Almost anything that drains. It copes with poor sandy soil better than most flowering plants, but it rots in a bed that stays wet through winter.

Water and feed. Water weekly through the first summer, then only in extended dry spells. A handful of complete fertiliser in early spring is all it needs. Skip high nitrogen feeds, which push leaf at the expense of flower.

Pruning. Cut spent flower stems at the base once the colour goes, which tidies the clump and limits self seeding into neighbouring bushland. Remove yellowing leaves by hand, and divide congested clumps in autumn or early spring.

What to expect when it arrives

It comes as tube stock or in 140mm packs of ten. Tubes are small, a few leaves and a modest root system, and they are the economical way to plant a long border. The 140mm plants are a season ahead and go in with more presence.

Neither size normally flowers in its first summer. Expect leaf growth in year one and the first proper flush of heads in the second season, which is normal for agapanthus and not a fault. Delivered Australia wide, delivery from $29.95, plus our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• The full agapanthus range
• Edging plants for a clean border
• More plants for mass planting
• Salt tolerant plants for coastal gardens

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it?

Space plants 40cm apart for a mass planting or a continuous border. Wider spacing leaves visible gaps for years, since each clump only reaches about 0.6m across.

Is it safe around pets and children?

Treat it with care. Agapanthus sap can irritate skin and the mouth, so wear gloves when dividing and site it away from where a dog chews or a toddler grazes. It is not one of our pet friendly picks.

Why is mine all leaves and no flowers?

Almost always too much shade or too much nitrogen. Move it into full sun and switch to a balanced fertiliser in early spring. Very congested clumps also stop flowering, so divide them every four or five years.