Agapanthus campanulatus
| Agapanthus campanulatus | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 7 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Evergreen | |
| Height: | 2' |
| Width: | 2' |
| Blooms: | Mid Summer-Early Fall |
| Native to: | |
| Medicinal Rating: | |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Agapanthus campanulatus
Propagation: Seed - best sown in a greenhouse as soon as it is ripe[1], it can also be sown in a greenhouse in March/April[2]. The seed usually germinates in 1 - 3 months at 18°c[2], do not sow it too thickly so that it is possible to grow the seedlings on in their pot without disturbing them for their first year of growth. Give occasional liquid feeds to make sure they do not become nutrient deficient. Divide the seedlings up into individual pots in the spring following germination, grow them on for a further year in the greenhouse and then plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer. Seedlings take 2 - 3 years to flower[2].
Division of offsets in April/May. Do not move plants between October and March[3]. Division is very easy in the growing season, the divisions can be planed straight out into their permanent positions if required.
Cultivation: Succeeds in most soils[3] but it prefers a light very well-drained porous soil with plenty of leaf-mould[1]. Requires plenty of moisture during the growing season but it needs to be kept dry in the winter[4][1]. Another report says that it is drought resistant when established[5]. It only flowers freely when growing in a very sunny position[3]. Plants succeed in maritime gardens[6].
Plants are probably hardy to about -15°c[7], but are best if given a good mulch should temperatures lower than -5°c occur[1]. Some plants growing in Essex have their leaves killed by the first frosts of the autumn but the clumps are unharmed[5].
Hybridizes very freely with other members of this genus - some botanists say there is only one very variable species of Agapanthus[1].
A number of named varieties have been selected for their ornamental value[7].
Plants seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[6].
The flowering stems lean towards the sun[3].
Range: S. Africa - Natal and N. Cape province.
Habitat: Grassy and rocky places, often amongst bracken, and in moist peaty soil at low elevations[7].
Medicinal: Cardiac, stomachic[8].
Soil: Can grow in light and medium soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Wind: Tolerates maritime wind exposure
In Leaf: Evergreen
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Also Known As: A. umbellatus. pro parte
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Rice, Graham. Growing from Seed Volume 1. Thompson and Morgan, 1987.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Bird, Alfred. Focus on Plants Volume 5. Thompson and Morgan, 1991.
- ↑ Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Chatto, Beth. The Damp Garden. Dent, 1982.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Thomas, Graham. Perennial Garden Plants. J. M. Dent & Sons, 1990.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Phillips, Roger and Martyn Rix. Perennials - The Definitve Reference. Pan Books, 1991.
- ↑ Usher, George. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable, 1974.