QA

How To Care For Lily Of The Nile

Select The Right Site Agapanthus thrive in full sun and need 6-8 hours of sunlight each day. However, they do better in partial shade in hot climate areas. Agapanthus perform best in fertile, moist and well-drained soil. They show no preference for pH, except Agapanthus africanus which prefers an acid soil.

Do you cut back lily of the Nile?

Lily of the Nile grows in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 6 through 10, with both evergreen and deciduous varieties available. Prune back deciduous varieties to within 4 inches of the ground after the foliage dies back naturally in fall. Evergreen varieties don’t require cutting back.

Does lily of the Nile need sun or shade?

Grow Agapanthus in full sun or partial shade (partial shade is recommended in warm inland areas of the West) and rich, well-drained soil. Most plants are tender and should be grown in containers to bring indoors for the winter (except for ‘Midknight Blue’ which is hardy in Zones 6–10).

Does lily of the Nile spread?

Rhizomes also reproduce, so over time, a one-gallon plant of a vigorous cultivar like ‘Blue Storm’ will make a clump 2.5 feet wide. One of my large-leaved, unnamed cultivars has spread 3.5 feet in all directions. A brand-new bud of a white-flowered lily of the Nile.

How often do lily of the Nile bloom?

Lily of the Nile, magnificent summer flowers. Lily of the Nile, with latin name Agapanthus, is a marvelous perennial that blooms from spring to summer, producing magnificent floral scapes.

Do agapanthus come back every year?

With proper care, agapanthus flowering occurs repeatedly for several weeks throughout the season, then this perennial powerhouse returns to put on another show the next year. Agapanthus is a nearly indestructible plant and, in fact, most agapanthus varieties self-seed generously and may even become somewhat weedy.

Can Lily of the Nile grow in pots?

Agapanthus needs extremely well-draining, but somewhat water retentive, soil to survive. This may be hard to achieve in your garden, which is why growing agapanthus in pots is such a good idea. Terra cotta pots look especially good with the blue flowers.

What grows well with lily of the Nile?

One other option when you pick companion plants for agapanthus is to focus on height. Plant a tall bush or blooming climber, like wisteria, that pulls the eye upward. Or you might plant dwarf agapanthus with hydrangea, and then add spiky birds of paradise, wild purple coneflowers or Shasta daisies.

What month does agapanthus flower?

Though the exact time will vary by breed, Agapanthus will start to bloom between late spring and late summer. Some varieties will still be blooming in Autumn, but none will begin blooming this late in the year.

Where is the best place to plant agapanthus?

Agapanthus thrive in full sun and need 6-8 hours of sunlight each day. However, they do better in partial shade in hot climate areas. Agapanthus perform best in fertile, moist and well-drained soil. They show no preference for pH, except Agapanthus africanus which prefers an acid soil.

Should I cut the dead flowers off my agapanthus?

Trimming Agapanthus Plants: Deadheading To deadhead agapanthus, simply use pruners or garden shears to remove the faded flower and the stalk at the base of the plant. If this is the case where you live, it’s critical to remove the blooms before they have time to develop seed heads and distribute seeds in the wind.

How do you keep agapanthus blooming?

Try feeding the plant twice monthly during springtime, using a water-soluble fertilizer for blooming plants, and then cut back to once monthly when the plant begins to bloom. Stop fertilizing when the plant stops blooming, usually in early autumn.

Why are agapanthus leaves turning yellow?

Rot. Bulb rot and root rot are both agapanthus problems that start underground. They show themselves above ground in yellow, wilted leaves and sometimes stunted plants. If you dig the plants up, you’ll find the roots or bulb decayed and discolored.

How do you get lily of the Nile to bloom?

If it’s planted in partial shade, lily of the Nile may not get enough sun to flower. Although the plant may bloom when it gets as few as three or four hours of direct sun per day, it should get six or more hours. In shady sites, lily of the Nile often produces healthy, lush foliage year after year, but won’t flower.

Is lily of the Nile the same as agapanthus?

Agapanthus is a summer-flowering bulb for Southern gardens. Sometimes called African lily and lily of the Nile, it is originally from South Africa. Agapanthus makes an elegant addition to any landscape. Its strap-like leaves make an excellent ground cover and its conspicuous flowers bloom all summer long.

Why do agapanthus only attract bees?

3. Agapanthus only flower for about one month of the year in early summer, but while they do, they provide much-needed food at the height of the bee breeding season when the hive numbers are growing and more bees are out foraging to feed the babies and put down stores while they can.

What do I feed my agapanthus?

Use a loam based compost like John Innes No3 with slow release Miracle Grow granules added for long term feed. Liquid feed with Miracle Grow All Purpose Feed or Phostrogen during the growing season. Overcrowded plants should be re-potted in spring. Feeding – Agapanthus are quite hungry feeders.

Can you feed agapanthus with Tomorite?

Basically, you can feed all your flowering plants with Tomorite when they are in flower, as this will promote more flowers.