Baby Periwinkle Agapanthus

Baby Periwinkle Agapanthus (Agapanthus 'Baby Periwinkle') is a genuinely small agapanthus, holding at about 40cm high and 40cm wide including the flower stems, rather than the metre high clumps most gardeners picture. Soft periwinkle blue heads open through summer above tidy strappy foliage. Planted 30cm apart it makes a continuous low border that survives salt, heat, drought and poor soil without attention.

Why you'll love it

• Small enough for a real border. At 40cm it edges a path or a driveway without flopping over the concrete the way full sized agapanthus does.
• Clear blue through summer. Rounded periwinkle heads sit just above the leaves, so the flowers read as part of the border rather than on stalks above it.
• Almost indestructible. Frost, heat, drought, salt spray and poor soil are all within range once it has settled in.
• Evergreen structure. The strappy foliage stays neat year round, so the border still looks deliberate outside the flowering season.

Where it works best

Borders and edging. Plant 30cm apart in a single row and the clumps knit into an unbroken green edge within two seasons. A double staggered row at the same spacing gives a wider band for a driveway.

Poolside. It handles reflected heat and splashes of chlorinated water, and the foliage does not shed the fine litter that clogs a skimmer.

Mass planting and coastal gardens. On a large bed or an exposed coastal block, plant 30cm apart across the area for solid low cover that needs almost no maintenance.

Growing Baby Periwinkle Agapanthus in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun gives the most flowers; it will grow in part shade with fewer heads and looser foliage. It suits subtropical, warm temperate, cool temperate and mediterranean gardens, and is frost hardy once established, so cold southern districts are fine.

Soil. Almost anything that drains. It performs in sandy coastal soil and in average garden loam, and copes with poor ground where little else edges neatly. Avoid spots where water pools after rain.

Water and feed. Water twice a week through the first summer to establish the roots, then only in extended dry weather. A complete slow release fertiliser in early spring gives the best flower count; overfeeding produces leaves at the expense of blooms.

Maintenance. Cut the spent flower stems off at the base once they brown, which keeps the planting tidy and stops seed forming. Divide congested clumps every four or five years in early spring. The sap can irritate skin, so wear gloves when dividing.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown as a 140mm pack of ten, which is the practical size for the way this plant is used. Ten plants cover a 3m border run at 30cm spacing, so measure your edge before ordering and round up. Each plant arrives as an established young clump with several leaves, not a bare root division.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Expect the foliage to sit still for the first month while roots move out, then steady clumping through the first warm season and a full flower display in the second summer. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse the full agapanthus range
• Plants that suit poolside gardens
• Plants for mass planting
• Salt tolerant plants for coastal gardens

Common questions

How many plants do I need per metre?

Three to four per metre in a single row at 30cm spacing. Two rows staggered at the same spacing give a band roughly 60cm wide, which suits a driveway edge.

How is it different from a standard agapanthus?

Size, mainly. This one holds at about 40cm including the flower stems, where common forms reach a metre or more and lean into paths once the heads are heavy.

Will it flower in shade?

It will grow there, but flowering drops away noticeably. Give it at least half a day of direct sun if the blue heads are the reason you are buying it.

Western Australia: this plant is listed as an environmental weed in WA, where it escapes from gardens into bushland. We do not recommend it for WA gardens. Please choose a local alternative.