Agapanthus 'Blue Ribbon'

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African lily 'Blue Ribbon'

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African lily 'Blue Ribbon' RHS / Joanna Kossak

Synonyms

Agapanthus 'Blue Ribband'

Herbaceous Perennial
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An herbaceous perennial 90cm high with evergreen, arching, strap-shaped green leaves 40-50cm long, and round flowerheads about 20cm across of about 50-60 horizontal flowers which are up to 5cm across and pale violet-blue with much darker midribs and dark violet anthers, in late summer

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.5-1 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0.5-1 metres
Max Height
0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H3

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Amaryllidaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Clump forming
Potentially harmful
Humans/Pets (dogs, cats): harmful if eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. For further information and contact numbers regarding pets, see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants
Genus
Agapanthus are clump-forming perennials with narrowly strap-shaped leaves, evergreen in some species, and erect stems bearing umbels of funnel-shaped blue or white flowers
Name Status
Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

In colder areas, grow in containers in peat-free, loam-based compost, water freely when in growth but sparingly in winter, and apply a balanced liquid fertilizer monthly from spring until flowering; in mild areas, grow outside in moisture-retentive but well-drained soil in full sun, and provide winter protection with a dry mulch; for more advice, see Agapanthus cultivation

Propagation

Propagate by division in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Coastal
  • Mediterranean climate plants
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Patio and container plants
  • Wall side borders
  • Cut flowers
  • Flower borders and beds

Pruning

No pruning required except cutting back dead flower stems, but allow them to remain until spring, because the seedheads look attractive over winter

Pests

May be susceptible to slugs and snails and agapanthus gall midge

Diseases

May be susceptible to a virus