Agapanthus Plants

Requirements

• Agapanthus is a summer bloomer that doesn't do well in intense, hot sunlight. Instead, agapanthus likes morning sunlight or dappled light under a tree. The plant accepts shade, but growth is weak and straggly. Although agapanthus adapts to nearly any soil, fertile, well-drained soil is best.

Care

• Agapanthus is fertilized every spring with a general purpose garden fertilizer. Feed indoor plants a liquid fertilizer for blooming houseplants. Fertilize the plant a second time after blooming. Deadhead wilted blooms to promote a long blooming season. To deadhead agapanthus, pinch off the spent bloom with a fingernail or garden shears. Include the stem down to the next bud or leaf. Keep agapanthus consistently moist, but not soaked, throughout the blooming season.

Winterizing

• Agapanthus is semi-hardy and won't tolerate winter temperatures less than 28 degrees Fahrenheit. Containerized agapanthus is moved into a cool spot such as a basement or storage room where temperatures is maintained between 35 and 45 degrees Fahrenheit. Water just enough to keep the soil from becoming bone dry. Protect in-ground agapanthus with several inches of a mulch such as straw or dry leaves. Place a large basket or bowl over the plant to add extra protection and keep the mulch in place. Secure the basket or bowl by weighing it down with a heavy rock or brick.

Cultivars

• White agapanthus cultivars include "Albus" and "'Ardernei," along with "Getty White," with creamy white blooms. Agapanthus is available in a variety of blues, including the dark blue "Sapphire or Storm Cloud," deep blue "Bressingham Blue" and blue-striped "Profusion." Elaine" and "Ella Mae" are shades of violet. While most agapanthus cultivars reach heights of 24 to 48 inches,"Lilliput" and "Streamline" max out at 18 inches, and "Peter Pan" and "Tinkerbell" grow to 12 inches tall.