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Herbaceous Perennial

Agapanthus coddii

Codd's African lily

A herbaceous perennial 1-1.5m high with deciduous, strap-shaped green leaves, 3-5 cm wide and 15-45 cm long, and large heads of dark blue-violet buds which open to blue flowers in late summer

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Ultimate height

1–1.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0.5–1 metres

Chalk

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

West–facing or East–facing or South–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical 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: Correct
Plant range: S Africa

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow outside in mild areas in humus-rich, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil in full sun, and provide winter protection with a dry mulch; in colder areas, grow in containers 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 seed, sown at 13-15°C when ripe or in spring, and keep the seedlings in a frame for the first winter in frost-prone climates; or by division between spring and early summer, or in early autumn after plants have finished flowering

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Gravel garden
Prairie planting
City and courtyard gardens
Coastal
Mediterranean climate plants
Low Maintenance
Cut flowers
Flower borders and beds
Wall side borders

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

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