Plant Care Guides / Outdoor & Coastal / Perennials and bulbs
Indigenous | Easy Care | Perennials and bulbs
The agapanthus is probably the most recognised indigenous plant on the South African coast. Tall stems rise above strappy, evergreen leaves and carry big, rounded heads of trumpet-shaped flowers in blue or white from late spring through midsummer.
It is utterly at home here: wind-tolerant, salt-hardy, drought-proof once established, and happy in the sandy, alkaline coastal soil without any special treatment. This covers all the forms we stock, from the standard praecox Blue and Alba to the named cultivars like Black Jack, Poppin Purple, Snow Storm, Wavy Navy, Barley Blue, Mount Superior and Zambezi, which offer different sizes, flower colours and compactness. Plant them in bold drifts for the best effect. Bees, sunbirds and other nectar feeders love them.
60 cm to 1 m in flower, depending on variety. Compact cultivars stay lower.
Moderate. They bulk up over a few years into substantial clumps.
Mass planting, borders, driveway edging, bank cover, large containers, poolside. One of the most versatile and reliable perennials for a coastal garden.
Full sun for the best flowering. Tolerates semi-shade, though with fewer flowers.
Any soil, including sandy, alkaline and poor coastal conditions. Not fussy at all. They grow in places where almost nothing else will.
Low once established. Water while settling in, then they cope with drought. The fleshy roots store water.
A feed in spring with a balanced fertiliser encourages heavier flowering. Not essential, but the display improves with it.
Remove spent flower heads and stems at the base once flowering is done. Remove dead or damaged leaves. Every few years, when clumps become congested and flowering drops off, lift and divide them in late winter.
Ask about availability. WhatsApp us to check what is currently in stock, or visit the nursery and we will help you choose the right plant for your spot.
