Agapanthus Poppin’ Purple

Agapanthus 'Poppin' Purple' is a brand-new variety of Agapanthus that is quite exceptional, combining floribundity, original flower colour, robustness, and rapid growth. Its intense violet inflorescences, of good size, bloom in large numbers for several weeks, from late spring to summer, including on young plants, at the end of short stems unaffected by the wind. Not very tall but exceptionally colourful, this variety easily finds its place in all gardens, or in a pot on the terrace. Despite its exotic charm as a southern plant, it is 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 hardy plants, better adapted to our climates. The cultivar Poppin' Purple ('MP003') was recently obtained in South Africa. In addition to its ornamental qualities, it has distinguished itself by its rapid growth and resistance to bacterial rot affecting agapanths in wet soil. This plant develops and multiplies rapidly from a stump with fleshy rhizomes, forming from spring onwards a dense tuft of linear foliage, dark green and shiny, at least 40-50cm (16-20in) in diameter, expanding over time. Flowering often begins in May (depending on the climate) and continues until August if the soil remains moist. Numerous, sturdy floral stems, on average 60cm (24in) tall, emerge from a tightly packed tuft of foliage. They bear at their tips, hemispherical umbels 10-12cm (4-5in) in diameter, composed of numerous small bell-shaped flowers with flared trumpets. Each flower is composed of 6 petals fused into a tube at the base, of a bright blue-violet colour, crossed by a thin line of a darker violet. The foliage of this variety disappears in winter, it is deciduous. Its colour is a fairly dark, glossy green.

Agapanthus 'Poppin' Purple' will quickly become the new star of the garden, with its brilliantly coloured inflorescences that succeed each other for weeks. In addition to its generous flowering, it has good hardiness, up to about -10/-12°C (14/10.4°F). This variety will bring an elegant and exotic touch to any setting. It will easily adapt to many regions that are not too cold, especially if its stump is protected by a thick layer of mulch in winter. Whether in a drift, border, large rock garden, pot or container, Agapanthus is suitable for a wide range of uses. It is particularly well-suited to mild coastal climates. 'Poppin' Purple' is very beautiful when associated with other compact blue, purple, or white varieties in a minimalist setting. It is also very decorative in exotic-themed flowerbeds with Kniphofias, Hemerocallis, grasses, and Cannas.