Agapanthus praecox minimus
| Agapanthus praecox | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 9 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Evergreen | |
| Height: | 3' |
| Width: | 2' |
| Blooms: | Mid Summer-Early Fall |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Agapanthus praecox minimus
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 once established[5]. It only flowers freely if it is in a very sunny position[3]. Plants succeed in maritime gardens[6].
Probably not quite hardy outside the mildest areas of Britain, it is best if given a good mulch in the winter[4][1].
Hybridizes very freely with other members of this genus - some botanists say there is only one very variable species of Agapanthus[1].
Plants seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[6].
The flowering stems lean towards the sun[3].
Range: S. Africa.
Edibility: Root[7]. No further details.
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.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ Chatto, Beth. The Damp Garden. Dent, 1982.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Thomas, Graham. Perennial Garden Plants. J. M. Dent & Sons, 1990.
- ↑ Kunkel, Günther. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books, 1984.
- ↑ Usher, George. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable, 1974.