Agapanthus Midnight Moon - African lily

Agapanthus Everpanthus® Midnight Moon is a new generation bicolour agapanthus, from the Everpanthus® series, renowned for its generous and repeat flowering. Compact, robust, and often evergreen, it offers white umbels finely striped with violet all summer long. In a border, in a pot or as an edging plant, this perennial adds an exotic touch to summer displays while requiring little maintenance.

Botanically, Agapanthus belongs to the Amaryllidaceae family. For this type of agapanthus with evergreen foliage, the species is Agapanthus africanus, also named Abumon africanum, Crinum africanum or Agapanthus umbellatus. The genus is native to southern Africa, where these perennials colonise embankments and rocky slopes, in mild and sunny climates, often on well-drained sandy soils.
Agapanthus Everpanthus® Midnight Moon 'DWAgHyb20' is a horticultural creation from the South African breeder De Wet Plant Breeders, protected and distributed in Europe by Plantipp and, in France, by Globe Planter. The Everpanthus® series groups together agapanthus selected for their compact habit, their particularly long and repeat flowering, and good resistance to disease, heat and drought. This perennial forms a dense clump of strap-like leaves from fleshy roots and a short rhizome. Its growth is fairly rapid: in two to three years, the plant reaches its mature size, around 60 to 80 cm in height when in flower, for a spread of 50 to 60 cm. The bright, glossy green foliage forms a soft, slightly arching sheaf. It remains evergreen in winter in coastal or Mediterranean climates, but often becomes semi-evergreen, or even almost deciduous when temperatures reach -5°C. A well-protected crown can withstand -7/-10°C in very well-drained soil. The sturdy, upright flower stems bear large, rounded umbels composed of numerous fine trumpet-shaped flowers. The dark violet buds open into white corollas marked with a violet stripe on each tepal, with a reverse washed with mauve: the whole creates a subtle and luminous bicolour effect. Flowering lasts from June to August, with repeat flowering until September if the soil does not dry out too much. The plant is non-suckering and widens gently without becoming invasive.

Agapanthus Everpanthus® Midnight Moon can be cultivated in the ground or in pots. In the garden, this variety deserves a prime spot near the terrace or along a path. Placed in a wide, slightly raised container, its umbels can be enjoyed at eye level. In a sunny border, pair it with the lavender clouds of Limonium 'Dazzle Rocks' and the dark spikes of Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Black Beauty', which highlight its bicoloured flowers. For an even more colourful display, add Echinacea 'Green Twister' and Lilliputs® 'Mandarin' dwarf rose. Provide a well-drained soil, preferably stony or sandy, never waterlogged in winter, and protect the crown with a thick mulch. You will need to overwinter your potted plants in a cold greenhouse in colder regions.

In South Africa, the Agapanthus genus is traditionally associated with love and fertility, hence its pretty nickname "flower of love" and its frequent presence near houses.