Agapanthus, commonly known as Lily of the Nile or African Lily, is a beautiful flowering plant native to southern Africa. The name Agapanthus comes from the combination of the Greek words agape (love) and anthos (flower).
Agapanthus come in a wide variety such as evergreen and deciduous to tall and dwarf and it is a member of the onion family (Alliaceae). All have a dense fleshy root system that produces arching, strappy, dark green foliage in a clumping habit.
During mid Spring to early Summer, tall flower spikes will emerge with round umbels of brightly coloured flowers.The flowers are tube to bell shaped in shades of blue to purple or white. This leads to the Australian common name, Star of Bethlehem, as it blooms just before Christmas.
Agapanthuses has a reputation for being resilient to both weather and pest. It tolerates most weather conditions including hot dry climates as well as mild frosts. Neither it is affected by common garden pests. It’s also somewhat fire-resistant. While it does burn eventually, the thick, sap-filled leaves take a long time to do so.
