Agapanthus inapertus subsp. pendulus

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drooping closed African lily

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drooping closed African lily RHS / Joanna Kossak
drooping closed African lily RHS / Joanna Kossak

Synonyms

Agapanthus pendulus
Agapanthus penduliflorus

Herbaceous Perennial
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A herbaceous perennial with upright, deciduous, green leaves, 70cm long and 2-3cm wide, and erect stems, 90-180cm high, carrying flowerheads 10cm across of about forty hanging flowers which are up to 4cm long, barely open at the mouth, and usually very dark blue or purplish blue, but may also be pale violet-blue or white, from late summer to early autumn

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

1.5-2.5 metres

Max Spread

0.5-1 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0.5-1 metres
Max Height
1.5-2.5 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)
H4

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Amaryllidaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
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
Correct
Plant Range
S Africa

How to Grow

Cultivation

In milder areas, grow outside in moisture-retentive but well-drained soil in full sun, in a sheltered position such as a south-facing or west-facing wall, and provide winter protection with a dry mulch; in colder areas, grow in containers in a 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; for more advice, see Agapanthus cultivation

Propagation

Propagate by division in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

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

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