Agapanthus
are South African lilies which are quite easy to cultivate, with some species being
completely deciduous in all climates and others being evergreen but liable to getting the
foliage frosted off in harder climates.They grow best in warm sunny conditions with a
moderately fertile soil, but are very tolerant of a wide range of conditions, as long as
the drainage is not poor. They also make excellent container plants if fertilised with
slow release fertiliser each spring.
The Headbourne Hybrids are a race of mostly
deciduous hybrids raised in The U.K. with a dwarf to medium sized growth habit that range
in colour from white to deep navy blue. Each area where agapanthus are cultivated seems to
have its local selections, but some named forms are raised as seedlines, so are not
necessarily uniform.
Agapanthus are easily propagated by division or
seed in the early spring, or selected forms are propagated by tissue culture.
The plants on this page are new selections at
various stages of evaluation.
Agapanthus Snowcloud
"Snowcloud"; Flower stems 90cm, up to 1m in
semi shade, with 3-400 florets, as well as secondary stems with fewer florets all of which
are scented. This is a hybrid of A. inapertis and was selected to start a breeding line
since it flowers very prolificly.
Now available from Parva Plants at info@parva.co.nz or outside New Zealand, contact Lifetech Laboratories for plant material.
Agapanthus Platinum Pink Agapanthus Platinum Pearl
"Platinum Pearl";Snowcloud seedling. Stems85cm-90cm tall.Up
to 170 florets per head, 60 on secondary stems. Usually 2, often 3 stems per crown.
"Platinum Pink"; Snowcloud seedling. Stems 70-90 cm tall.
90-120 florets per stem. Usually 2 stems per crown.
Agapanthus Stormcloud Mini Agapanthus Small Dark
"Stormcloud Mini"; Inapertis f2 hybrid.
Stems up to 100cm semi shade in ground, 65-70cm potted,slightly drawn.40-50florets per
stem. 1 stem per crown (6 into culture at 25.4.97)
"Small Dark"; Blue dwarf x patens.Stem 73cm, slightly drawn
(only 1 97).45 florets.
As the "Platinum" sisters show, it appears that various colours can be produced with the somewhat optimistic goal of a clear pink and possibly red. A red form was reputedly in cultivation in The U.K. last century.