Ornatec InternationalSpecies reference sheet ยท ornatecinternational.com
Agapanthus africanus
African Lily
Agapanthus africanus, the African Lily, is an evergreen clumping perennial from the Western Cape of South Africa, grown for its arching strap-shaped foliage and for the tall bare stems of blue funnel-shaped flowers it throws up through summer. It settles into a neat mound and holds that form for years with very little attention.
It is a workhorse of mass planting: banks, kerbside beds, median strips and the front edge of shrub borders, where a long flowering season and a tidy evergreen habit count for more than individual specimen value.
Specifications
- Height0.6 to 1 metre in flower, with foliage to 0.5 metres
- Width0.5 to 0.6 metres
- Native toThe Western Cape of South Africa
- FoliageNarrow, arching, strap-shaped leaves in a dense basal clump; evergreen
- Growth rateModerate
Conditions
- SoilPrefers well-drained sandy or loamy soils; tolerates poor and gravelly ground
- LightFull sun to partial shade
- WaterLow to moderate; drought-tolerant once established
- ClimateThrives in Mediterranean, subtropical and warm temperate regions
Additional Features
- FlowersRounded umbels of blue funnel-shaped flowers on bare stems through summer
- UsesMass planting, border edging, median strips, kerbside beds and container display
- SpacingPlant 3 to 5 per square metre for a closed mass within two seasons
- Low MaintenanceCut spent flower stems after flowering and divide congested clumps every four to five years
- Pest ResistanceGenerally trouble-free, though snails may graze new foliage in wet conditions
- Drought ToleranceHolds condition through dry spells once the clump has rooted down
- Seasonal AppealEvergreen through the year, with a long summer flowering flush
The African Lily is the dependable blue in a planting scheme, giving reliable summer colour and year-round green cover for very little input.
Availability by project review. Sizes, quantities, origin and export readiness are confirmed after your plant schedule is reviewed against destination, timing and quarantine requirements. MEWA certified for supply into Saudi Arabia; Australian Export Registered Establishment.
Enquiries: sales@ornatecinternational.com
310 Donkin Rd, Utchee Creek QLD 4871, Australia
Prepared 09 September 2026