Perfect border plant
With strappy leaves and compact dense foliage that crowds out weeds, the agapanthus is a great choice for borders along paths or pools. They'll thrive in sun or shade, but for maximum flowers, plant in full sun. Colours vary from dark purple through to blue to white. Select a size to suit the location - choose from ankle-high dwarf varieties to head-high giants.
Agapanthus do well in pots too. They like to be quite crowded, but still need plenty of soil so choose a large container and plant 3-4 specimens in it, rather than placing one plant in a small pot.
General care
Agapanthus grow in all soil types, as long as drainage is good, and require little water once established. A small amount of slow release fertiliser applied in early spring will help boost summer flowering. Remove spent flowers at the base before they seed, especially if grown close to natural bushland since agapanthus can displace native plants in areas of natural growth. During long spells of hot weather the leaves can suffer from sun scorch.
Dividing
To keep your agapanthus in prime flowering condition, lift and divide dense clumps every 4-5 years or so in autumn. Dig the whole plant out of the ground, knock off as much soil as you can, and separate each individual plant. You may need to use a pruning saw to cut through the dense root mat. Allow the plants to rest overnight before replanting the next day - this allows a callus to form over damaged roots. Use excess plants to start a new garden bed elsewhere or to fill gaps along borders.
Pests and diseases
Sap-sucking mealybugs can infest agapanthus, the first signs being distorted and dying leaves. Mealybugs are small insects that are covered in a powdery substance that looks like a fungus. They will hide deep down in the base of the plant which can make them difficult to treat. Remove all dead leaves and spray with pest oil or an insecticide formulated to treat mealybugs.
Look out for these varieties
Black Pantha
Deep purple flowers on stems up to 1m.
Snowball
Dwarf plant with pretty white flowers up to 50cm.
Cloudy Days
Dual-coloured flowers up to 1m.
