African lily Agapanthus 'Summer Love' Blue - Hardy plant

Agapanthus tubers can be planted in the garden in the spring in a well-drained sunny spot or in pots. Beware of late night frosts. The tubers should be planted at a depth that is twice as deep as the height of the tuber – so a 5 cm tuber should be planted in a 10 cm hole and approximately 20 cm apart. Loosen the soil with a fork, plant the tubers with the roots pointing down and growing point upwards, cover with soil. The elegant flowers look their best when planted in groups of at least 3 tubers. Your African Lily planted in a decorative pot The African Lily will thrive well in a pot in a warm, sheltered spot. Plant at least 3 tubers in a large planter for a spectacular show. It will however flower best in a pot that is on the small side although clay pots can actually crack with the growth of Agapanthus tubers – if this happens pot up in one that is only slightly larger. Replant every 4 or 5 years at the most.

Water your Agapanthus regularly (summers too) just not too much as the surrounding soil can be allowed to dry out a little between watering. For a profusely flowering Agapanthus, we advise using fertiliser pellets in the early spring, then a change to Bakker's Flowering Plants fertiliser – one rich in potassium – which really stimulates flowering. The Lily of the Nile prefers to be left alone – only replant if absolutely necessary and you will be rewarded with even more Agapanthus tubers! Water sparingly in the autumn, gradually let them dry out and use no fertiliser. Getting Agapanthus through the winter The Agapanthus tubers are not frost hardy, but are fairly easy to keep over the winter: water less during the autumn and place the pot in a cool frost-free area in a temperature between 1 and 5° C. During this period let the soil dry out (but not completely). Once the leaves are visible they can be watered more often. At this stage add fertiliser to the water when watering. After the frosts your Agapanthus can be put outside on the patio or decking to let it get used to the outdoor temperature.
If your African lily is planted in highly permeable soil in the garden and you want to leave it there for the winter, you can cover it with layers of leaves and other organic material or cover with several layers of fleece fabric. This method is often works well but provides no security.

Agapanthus (African lily) is classified under Amarylidaceae (as are daffodils and amaryllis).