Home And Garden

Another gardening project on the calendar for cooler fall days is to plant long-lasting agapanthus flowers.

The genus Agapanthus includes six to ten species, all native to southern Africa. The common name "Lily of the Nile" is misleading because the Nile is located in the northern region of Africa. The plant is cultivated all over the world and there are many cultivars, including natural selections and hybrids.

When I moved into my current home four decades ago, the garden had a large patch of agapanthus that had been stretching for years. I found the team more problematic than resourceful. A friend agreed to organize the party with a bobcat (game for adults). The hard work was done in a short time, only the transport work remained.

At the time, I treated agapanthus almost like an ordinary plant. In fact, it is much more desirable in the garden, offering good height, excellent foliage and flowers, and easy maintenance. I finally learned to appreciate the plant.

This agapanthus is evergreen and grows well in the Mediterranean bay area climate. There are dwarf hybrids like 'Tinkerbell', but most varieties grow lush green leaves 2-3 feet long and wide and 3-4 feet tall, creating attractive displays. Depending on the variety, the long flowering period extends from June to October.

Agapanthus plants grow easily in well-drained soil and full sun. They are vigorous growers, requiring little water or care once established, although an annual supplement with an aged fertilizer will support healthy growth and abundant flowering.

The clusters of this plant increase each year and should be divided every four to six years to prevent crowding (decreased flowering). In the garden as a replant or as another element, or it can be shared with other gardeners.

Three species of Agapanthus provide interesting floral color contrasts in my perennial border in South Africa.

Pricox SSP Orientalis 'Getty White' (White)

a. Orientalis spp. orientalis (variety not included) (medium blue)

a. Africanus x Pendulus 'Storm' (dark blue)

When they have finished flowering in October, we cut the flower stalks. We can leave the seed heads uncovered and become birdseed.

Then we decided to distribute the funds underground for more than six years. This is good fall practice, but now the challenge is to determine the species. In the absence of flowers, it can be difficult to distinguish plants with the same shape.

This experience justifies photographic documentation of the garden, even if the names of the plants are known and possibly described on a garden map or a list of gardens. This is another new year event.

Agapanthus begins to divide the clusters by removing the clusters, which can be large and heavy. This is best accomplished by pushing around the box, pushing the flat mast under the hill, and lifting at various points around the hill. Then push yourself out of bed onto a flat surface.

The plant grows from mostly underground rhizomes, which act as storage organs. Thick fleshy white roots emerge from the roots.

Once the stock emerges from the ground, the roots and rhizomes can be divided with pointed cones, ensuring that each segment has at least two growing points. With large groups it is very easy to divide by holding two garden forks next to each other.

The hardest part is division. Transplanting is relatively easy as long as there is ample space in full sun and well-drained soil. If my new plant group mixes up flower colors randomly, it may be a trait, not a bug.

Hopefully there will be more monsoon rains in the coming months; Regular watering in the spring will help the plants establish themselves.

Tom Carwin is past president of the UC Santa Cruz Arboretum and Friends of the Monterey Bay Association.