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Agapathus
PoddingtonP
Posts: 196
in Plants
I'd like to grow some agapanthus in pots this year. Does anyone have any recommended varieties? And which has foliage that dies down and which not? I know a lot of garden centre ones are 'headbourne hybrids, is this a good one to go with? Ideally i would like similar height and flowering times, but a variety of colours (white, light blue and dark blue). I'm planning on overwintering in my greenhouse so they don't need to be particularly hardy.
I'm going to plant 3 per pot, as I know they like to be 'pot bound'. Any recommendations on soil/compost to use?
They are not cheap plants so I don't want to get it wrong!
Thanks
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Just bumping this up! Just bought three roots for a fiver and now waiting for an expert to come on and answer PP's questions so I can tag along. I was going to stick them in the flower beds (raised/free-draining sandy soil, sunny position) - was thinking of sticking well rotted manure below, sprinkle of chicken manure/some compost in soil and covering with bark chippings. Will this work? Love agapanthus, but no experience at all!!!
I got some cheap a couple of years ago in a sale and put them straight in the bed, but then we had that really nasty winter and they never grew back. Which is why I'm going for pots this time. I saw them bare root in the GC and was tempted as they are so much cheaper than a potted plant, but then thought they might not flower for a couple of years so think I'll go for potted ones this time.
Oh that winter was a horror wasn't it! We lost (or nearly lost) so much. It altered our garden, but as always, there were some plusses I suppose. I wonder if we will ever have a winter like that again? Hope not.
Keeping young agapanthus plants in pots for at least the first few years will get them flowering quicker. I grow Headbourne Hybrids (from seed and then from self-produced seed) and they are as tough as old boots, but they do usually lose all top growth in the Winter. One of them doesn't though - natural variation (they are hybrids after all.) Whether they are evergreen or not depends on where you are. Once they become large plants and are planted into borders, do be aware that they can be quite thuggish with thick fleshy roots which reach far beyond the top growth and can 'mug' nearby plants. I have removed some of my larger ones because of this and now recommend they are grown in pots unless you have a large garden and can let them do their thing.
Having said that, there are a lot of other cultivars - take a look at Woottens who carry a large range and have good descriptions.
I bought some Agapanthus from GW mag after seeing them growing wild in Cornwall last summer and fell in love with them. It was before I was on here and in my enthusiasm I have planted all 4 in the garden and think they may be dead as no sign of life. I was also under the impression they would flower this year and it seems not (if they are alive that is!!). A little disappointed and think I will start again with some more.
Think I will start them in a pot then
. They will be evergreen here as the climate is pretty kind really - last year's annual marguerite daisies are still flowering - and the beds aren't big enough for thugs. Can plant out when I am making new beds in the paddock, and they will have lots of room. At least in pots I can monitor them.
Woottens looks great Bob, thanks for the tip.
PoddingtonB
Agapanthus can be quite temperament.
I have planted them in the boarder and they have been difficult in their first year.
The plants are Agapanthus North Star that are a dark blue flower.
Care tips
Agapanthus are a greedy plant and will take a tomato feed every 2 weeks from when growth appears in spring
Also apply a slow release fertiliser in spring , mid summer and autumn
Plant in good well drained soil and water well in dry periods
Sometimes they do not flower in their first season but persevere they will come good
I bought 2 agapanthus a couple of years ago and have them in pots. They were lovely the first summer but last year after coming up again they didn't have any flowers. Have over wintered them inside the same as last year, they are coming through again--will they flower this year or am I doing something wrong.
Lily - try feeding them with tomato feed once a week when the leaves have come through a bit.
keep all mine in pots (congestion helps with making them flower) and bring them in the GH to keep them dry and warm all winter. I love the Midnight Star variety, and one called Back in Black - i like them really dark blue