Lily of the Nile, magnificent summer flowers

Each stem lifts a rounded head of dozens of small trumpet flowers, blue or white and 6 to 8 inches (15 to 20 cm) across, on a scape that can top 3 feet. Lily of the Nile (Agapanthus) earns its place at the back of borders or in patio pots, but only full sun and heat bring those flowers.

Lily of the Nile at a glance

Name	Agapanthus
Family	Liliaceae (lily family)
Type	perennial
Height	24 to 40 inches (0.6 to 1 m)
Exposure	full sun
Soil	ordinary, well drained
Flowering	June to September

This is a plant that you must absolutely have if the climate is mild enough.

However, if summer is the time for majestic blooms, winter requires specific care and attention…

• Read also: The beautiful umbels of the Lily of the Nile

Planting lily of the Nile

Season for planting lily of the Nile

For regions with rather cool winters, plant your lily of the Nile in spring, for them to harden before the first winter.

Elsewhere, for mild-wintered climates, lily of the Nile can be planted in fall.

If you have purchased your Agapanthus in pots, you can plant them all year round, except during frost and heat spells.

Best place for Lily of the Nile

If you live in a region where winter freezes a lot, grow your plants in in pots to be able to protect your Lily of the Nile from freezing cold.

• Lily of the Nile can cope with short, mild frost but cannot survive harsh winters.
• Full sun exposure is needed to produce beautiful flowers.

How to plant Lily of the Nile

Lily of the Nile rhizomes must not be planted in too deep a hole.

• Dig a hole as deep as the rhizome is thick, adding about an inch (a couple centimeters).
• Cover the rhizome without pressing the soil down too much.
• Adding compost upon planting will enhance growth and bloom of your lilies of the Nile

Propagating Lily of the Nile

The easiest and most common technique to propagate Lilies of the Nile is rhizome division in spring.

Indeed, the vegetation phase is when you will get the highest propagation success rates for Agapanthus.

• Delicately unearth the rhizome.
• Divide the rhizome in 2 or 3 parts.
• Replant each part following the above-mentioned technique described in the paragraph related to planting.

It is also possible to propagate Lily of the Nile through seed but this technique is slower and more challenging.

• When dividing an Agapanthus clump, give each piece a good share of fleshy roots and ideally at least one fan of leaves with a visible growth bud, since well-furnished divisions re-establish fastest.
• Water each replanted division thoroughly, then keep the soil lightly moist until new leaves appear for most perennials, but let rot-prone rhizomes such as bearded iris dry out between waterings.
• Lilies of the Nile flower best when their roots are fairly congested, so divide a clump only when bloom clearly declines or the plant is pushing itself out of its pot.
• Seed-raised Agapanthus rarely comes true to the parent variety and needs several years to reach flowering size, so divide named cultivars if you want to keep their exact flower colour.

Pruning and caring for Lily of the Nile

When you notice wilted flowers, cut the floral scapes as short as possible to avoid needlessly draining the plant.

Lilies of the Nile in fall and winter

Lily of the Nile are plants that cannot survive harsh colds, and so must be grown in areas where winter is mild.

If winter is mild, leave your plant in place without removing its leaves.

What should be done if it freezes in your area?

If your lily of the Nile are grown in pots, it is best to bring them indoors, in a cool, well-lit room where it never freezes.

If your plants are directly in the ground, you must cut the leaves before the first frost spells and cover the stump with thick mulch. You can use dried leaves, for example, or any other mulch.

Planting and overwintering according to your climate

Where you garden decides both when you plant lily of the Nile and how you see it through the cold months. The table below sums up the four situations described above.

In every case, remember that the plant copes with short, mild frost but not with a harsh winter.

All there is to know about growing lily of the Nile

This beautiful perennial produces long stems donning magnificent blue flowers that are around 6 to 8 inches (15 to 20 cm) across.

This magnificent floral scape can reach over 3 feet (1 meter) long.

In the backdrop of flower beds is where they will best be noticed, but they will be very appealing in pots or garden boxes on a terrace.

You can also create beautiful Lily of the Nile beds with only that flower throughout the bed, in the center of your garden or along a walkway.

They need heat and sun to produce beautiful flowers.

Species and varieties of Lily of the Nile

There are several species and varieties within the Agapanthus genus, which differ in the white or blue colors of their flowers. One lily of the Nile variety that is hardier than the rest is the ‘Blue triumphator’.

Here are some interesting Lily of the Nile varieties that we have selected for you:

Blue-flowered Lily of the Nile

• Agapanthus ‘intermedius’
• Agapanthus ‘donau’
• Agapanthus ‘cobalt blue’
• Agapanthus ‘lavender blue’

White-flowered Lily of the Nile

• Agapanthus ‘polar ice’
• Agapanthus ‘sea coral’
• Agapanthus ‘snow ball’
• Agapanthus ‘donau’

Which plants and settings to pair with Lily of the Nile

The article suggests several ways of using Lily of the Nile, from fiery contrasts to tone-on-tone blue schemes. The table below sums up each pairing and the effect it creates.

• Read also: Propagating perennials through crown division