Agapanthus Poppin’® Pink - African lily

The Agapanthus ‘2020-07’ Poppin’® Pink is a recent Agapanthus introduction that stands out from classic varieties thanks to the pink colour of its flowers. It forms a compact evergreen clump, in a beautiful deep to dark green, from which flower stems rise from June onwards, reaching 70 cm in height. The umbels of flowers that top them come in shades ranging from pale pink to an intense pink. Blooming repeatedly until August-September, the flowers create a lovely harmony of hues with the foliage. Easy to grow in ordinary, well-drained soil, this perennial with exotic charm is perfect for mild coastal areas, where frost is not severe. In regions that are too cold in winter, planted in a pot it will adorn a terrace or balcony in the most beautiful way, and should be brought indoors for protection in winter.

The Agapanthus has journeyed through different botanical families before joining, in 2009, that of the Amaryllidaceae, alongside the popular Daffodils, or the much more discreet Sprekelia (St James's Lily) whose flowers are breathtakingly beautiful. The genus Agapanthus, endemic to South Africa, is represented by only 6 or 7 species, with deciduous (the hardiest), semi-evergreen or evergreen foliage. Their short rhizomes with fleshy roots produce strap-shaped leaves that form dense clumps. In summer, they produce flower stems which, in some cases, can reach up to 1.50 m in height. The genus inspires breeders who regularly enrich the horticultural range with new cultivars, most often with blue, white or purplish-red flowers, sometimes approaching black as in 'Black Magic'.
The EVERPANTHUS® series horticultural range groups together cultivars whose main flowering in late spring repeats several times until early autumn. Poppin’® Pink broadens the range of Agapanthus by bringing the appeal of a deeper pink than in 'Blush Pink'. This recent Agapanthus forms a compact evergreen clump, made up of basal leaves (growing directly from the root). About 25 cm long and 3 cm wide, the leaves are therefore very elongated, forming ribbon-like shapes with tapering tips. Their colour is an intense deep green, ornamental even without flowers. The clump widens season after season until it reaches roughly 60 cm across. Flowering appears in late spring, in June, in the form of upright stems, reaching 60 to 70 cm in height. Each one bears an umbel 10 to 12 cm in diameter, made up of several dozen flowers arranged in all directions, thus forming almost a sphere, somewhat like an ornamental onion. The flowers measure 4 to 5 cm in length, have a short tubular base, then open out like a trumpet, showing six rounded petals. Their colour is a blend of light pink and deep pink, sometimes present in a prominent central vein, or spread more widely. The protruding stamens are dark pink at their tips, and the flower buds, also distinctly pink, help visually reflect this dominant hue, in perfect harmony with the green of the foliage. The main flowering is followed by several repeat flushes, until August or September, making Poppin’® Pink an ideal variety for enhancing a terrace as a flowering potted plant.

The Agapanthus Poppin’® Pink is the ideal plant for bringing a Mediterranean touch to a balcony or patio. In climates too cold for it in winter, as it only tolerates frost down to -7/-10°C in good soil and exposure conditions, you can grow it in a pot like citrus trees to enjoy it outdoors throughout the growing season. In milder regions, it will find its place in borders or beds, paired with other exotic-looking plants. Plant it at the foot of a Caesalpinia gilliesii, the Yellow Bird of Paradise with its such exotic-looking flowers. The Lantana 'Chapel Hill Yellow', with its yellow flowers and better hardiness than classic varieties, will also be a perfect bed companion, as will Kniphofias with their spectacular flower spikes.