Agapanthus praecox

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Agapanthuspraecox.jpg


Plant Characteristics
Habit   herbaceous

Height: 40 in"in" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 40.
Width: 40 in"in" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 40. to 50 in"in" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 50.
Lifespan: perennial
Bloom: early summer, mid summer, late summer
Cultivation
Exposure: sun
Water: moist, moderate, dry
Features: evergreen, flowers, naturalizes, foliage
USDA Zones: 9 to 11
Sunset Zones: not available
Flower features: blue, purple
Scientific Names

Alliaceae >

Agapanthus >

praecox >


Agapanthus praecox (Common Agapanthus[1], Blue Lily[1], African Lily[2], or Lily of the Nile[3]) is a plant species in the family Alliaceae and a native of the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa. Local names for this species include agapant, bloulelie, isicakathi and ubani.[1] Most of the cultivated plants of the genus Agapanthus are hybrids or cultivars of this species.[1]

More information about this species can be found on the genus page.

Cultivation

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Propagation

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Pests and diseases

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Varieties

Agapanthus praecox is a variable species with open-faced flowers. It is divided into three subspecies: subsp.praecox, subsp. orientalis and subsp. minimus.[1]

subsp. praecox

This subspecies occurs in Eastern Cape province of South Africa. It usually grows to between 0.8 and 1 metre tall and has 10-11 leathery leaves. The blue flowers, appear from December to February.[1] These have perianth segments which are greater than 50 mm in length.[1]

subsp. orientalis

Closeup of the flowers from the subspecies Orientalis.

This subspecies occurs in Eastern Cape and southern KwaZulu-Natal. Although it is about the same height as subsp. praecox, it has up to 20 poisonous, strap-like leaves per plant which are arching and are not leathery.[1] These range in length from 20 to 70 cm long and 3 to 5 cm wide.

[4] Flower clolour ranges from blue to white.[1][3] Shiny black seeds are produced in three-sided capsules.[3] These have perianth segments which are less than 50 mm in length.[1]

subsp. minimus

Occurring in the southeastern Western Cape and Eastern Cape, this subspecies is the smallest, ranging in height from 300 to 600 mm. It has a longer flowering season, from November to March. Flower colour includes white and various shades of blue.[1]

Gallery

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References

External links


  1. 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 " Agapanthus praecox Willd.". PlantZAfrica.com. South African National Biodiversity Institute. Retrieved on 2008-07-20. Template:Dead link
  2. "Taxon: Agapanthus praecox Willd.". Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville Area. Retrieved on 2008-07-20.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Agapanthus - Bush Invader". Retrieved on 2008-07-20.
  4. "Agapanthus praecox subsp. orientalis (F.M.Leight.) F.M.Leight.". PlantNET - New South Wales Flora Online. Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust, Sydney Australia. Retrieved on 2008-07-20.