The first agapanthus are starting to flower now, like the beautiful Dr Brouwer Agapanthus, photographed yesterday in the greenhouses below.
This is a great opportunity to revisit some classic questions about agapanthus...
When should agapanthus be planted?
Not now, in summer, but in spring: they have time to settle in before the heat. Ideally, plant just after the last frosts.
Autumn planting is possible (but in that case, buy them in pots), though tricky, as they are sensitive to winter cold. This is only for experienced gardeners!
Is it better to buy an agapanthus in a pot or bare roots?
There is an advantage to planting in pots: the plant is already established, which saves time in the growing cycle.
However, "bare roots" (actually stumps) are often much larger than what you can find in pots, so they tend to flower better... and are generally less expensive. Personally, I prefer bare roots: you know exactly what you're planting!
By the way, if you plant bare roots, bury the stump 5 to 10 cm deep.
Do agapanthus fear the cold?
Yes. But most can withstand a light frost: they can survive -5°C for one night, but not much more. So be careful, except in a narrow coastal strip (and yes, that's why the most beautiful agapanthus are by the sea...), they need winter protection!
Agapanthus umbellatum album
As always, local conditions will play a role: an agapanthus in a sheltered south-facing position, in well-drained sandy soil, will withstand -10°C better than its counterpart planted in a windy spot in clay soil saturated with moisture at -3°C.
Note that there are some varieties that are quite hardy, like Headbourne, the most resistant, which can endure down to -8°C.
How to protect agapanthus in winter?
It's not complicated; there are two solutions:
1) A pot planting, which can be placed in a shed or unheated garage (or, if not possible, generously protected from the cold with cardboard, newspaper, etc.) when the first frosts arrive, to be brought out after the last frosts. Be careful not to bring them out too early, as young shoots are sensitive to frost....
2) A mulch, which will vary in thickness depending on the region and the chill... Generally, 10 cm is sufficient. We have successfully kept our agapanthus in the ground in our northern garden, even during the terrible winter of 2011, with a 25 cm layer of leaf mulch, covered with a tarp to hold it in place.
Agapanthus Tinkerbell
Why didn't my agapanthus flower last summer?
Young agapanthus do not flower well. Opt for quality 2/3 eyes - meaning 2 or 3 shoots emerging from the stump (this is the quality we practice....) - which are strong enough to flower in the first year.
Agapanthus need a lot of sun to flower. In "poor summers", flowering is compromised in the northern half of France... Even more so if the agapanthus are not planted in full sun!
They do not like excessive watering, but can tolerate drought if it doesn't last too long: in pots, water about once a week, twice in very hot weather.
Should I add fertiliser to my agapanthus?
Agapanthus prefer fairly rich, well-drained soil, but are not very greedy. In the ground, they do not need fertiliser. In pots, you can add a base fertiliser once a year, or a liquid fertiliser once a month in spring.
Why are my potted agapanthus more beautiful than those I planted in the garden?
Often, indeed, they are paradoxically more beautiful in pots.
Three factors:
- they like to be a bit crowded, which stimulates their flowering...
- Pots are often less humid than the ground, and agapanthus prefer fairly dry, well-drained soils (they are Mediterranean plants).
- In pots, you can better manage the planting location: clever gardeners will place their pots in the sunniest and most sheltered spot in the garden.... To bring them back to the semi-shaded terrace at flowering time!
It is said that agapanthus are evergreen, but mine lose their leaves in winter, why?
Most agapanthus found in commerce are from the Africanus varieties (due to their South African origin): the foliage is evergreen... unless frozen. In our climates, outside a narrow coastal strip, the foliage disappears in autumn and reappears in spring.
Are all agapanthus blue?
The most beautiful (in our opinion) is an electric blue: Blue Giant. But there are also white ones, and nearly all shades of lilac mauve, and even night blue varieties, like the sublime Black Magic. Note that there are also varieties with bright variegated foliage, like Tinkerbell or Silver Moon.
You will find a wide selection of varieties on our website!
Agapanthus Blue Giant
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