Agapanthus Ever White

Agapanthus Ever White is, just like its twin sister with blue flowers Ever Sapphire, the first to bloom in the garden, often as early as May, in large umbels loaded with pure white flowers. They stand tall on numerous short and sturdy flower stalks, surpassing a compact and tightly packed tuft of leaves. Not very tall but unusually generous,  easy to combine with other blooms, it easily finds its place in all gardens, where it will make an impression along a pathway, near the terrace or in a large pot on the patio. Deciduous and rather hardy, it is also a carefree agapanthus that  thrives in full sun, in ordinary but well-drained soil, not too dry in summer. 

Agapanthus are plants from the lily family native to South Africa. Several species have been extensively hybridized by horticulturists in search of new colours, more compact and hardier plants, better adapted to our climates. The cultivar Ever White ('WP001') was recently selected in South Africa for its exceptional floribundity. This plant develops and multiplies rapidly from a stump with fleshy rhizomes, forming from spring onwards a dense tuft of linear foliage, of a bright dark green, of at least 40-50cm (16-20in) in diameter, widening over time. The abundant flowering occurs from May to August. Numerous sturdy flower stalks barely 50cm (20in) tall emerge from the tuft of foliage. They bear at their end hemispherical umbels 10cm (4in) in diameter, composed of numerous small campanulate flowers in the shape of flared trumpets. Each is composed of 6 fused petals forming a tube at the base, of pure white colour. The shiny and bright green foliage of this variety disappears in winter, it is deciduous.

Despite its modest stature, Agapanthus Ever White forms a true bouquet of flowers, very bright for long weeks, much to the delight of the gardener. It is all you see, in the garden or on the terrace. In addition to its exceptional floribundity, it has good hardiness, up to about -10/-12°C. This new variety will easily adapt in many not too cold regions, especially if its stump is protected by a thick winter mulch. Whether in a border, in a rockery, in a large pot or planter, Agapanthus is suitable for a wide range of uses. It is particularly suited to mild coastal climates. Ever White is very beautiful when combined with Ever Sapphire or other compact blue, mauve or white varieties in a minimalist setting. It is also very decorative in exotic-themed borders with Kniphofias, Hemerocallises, grasses and Cannas.