Agapanthus 'Ice Blue Star'
African lily 'Ice Blue Star'
'Ice Blue Star' is a bulbous herbaceous perennial 1-1.2m high, with deciduous, slightly blue-green leaves, and large, full heads of pale violet-blue flowers, with darker central stripes, from midsummer to late summer
Size
Ultimate height
0.5–1 metresTime to ultimate height
2–5 yearsUltimate spread
0.5–1 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Blue Green | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Purple Blue | Blue Green | ||
| Autumn | Blue Green | |||
| Winter |
Position
- Full sun
Aspect
West–facing or East–facing or South–facing
Exposure
Sheltered Hardiness
H5Botanical details
- Family
- Amaryllidaceae
- Native to GB / Ireland
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Habit
- Clump forming
- Potentially harmful
- Humans/Pets (dogs, cats): harmful if eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. For further information and contact numbers regarding pets, see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants
- Genus
Agapanthus are clump-forming perennials with narrowly strap-shaped leaves, evergreen in some species, and erect stems bearing umbels of funnel-shaped blue or white flowers
- Name status
Accepted
How to grow
Cultivation
Grow in moisture-retentive but well-drained soil in full sun, and in colder areas provide winter protection with a loose mulch; in containers, grow in peat-free, loam-based compost, water freely when in growth but sparingly in winter, and apply a balanced liquid fertilizer monthly from spring until flowering; for more advice, see Agapanthus cultivation
Propagation
Propagate by division between spring and early summer, or in early autumn after plants have finished flowering
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- Coastal
- Gravel garden
- City and courtyard gardens
- Cottage and informal garden
- Patio and container plants
- Mediterranean climate plants
- Wall side borders
- Cut flowers
- Flower borders and beds
Pruning
No pruning required except cutting back dead flower stems, but allow them to remain until spring, because the seedheads look attractive over winter
Pests
May be susceptible to slugs and snails and agapanthus gall midge but generally pest-free
Diseases
May be susceptible to a virus
Get involved
The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.