Agapanthus is a genus now considered to be in the Agapanthaceae family. It was previously considered to be in the Alliaceae family but it does not have the onion or garlic smell and DNA sequencing indicates a closer relationship to Amaryllidaceae. Plants grow from rhizomes and have strap-like leaves. Flowers are umbels of blue or white funnel-shaped or tubular flowers. This genus is found in rocky grasslands on the southern and eastern fringes of southern Africa. Species in areas where there is year round rainfall are evergreen and those where rainfall is sparse in winter are deciduous. Information from the South African National Biodiversity Institute's web pages tells about this genus with more information too about Agapanthus praecox.
Agapanthus africanus is an evergreen plant with strap-shaped leaves found on rocky sandstone slopes, mostly montane in areas from the Cape Penisnsula to Swellendam. It has navy blue flowers and rarely blooms in the wild unless there is a fire. Plants grown in cultivation in the United States under this name are usually hybrids or forms of Agapanthus praecox. Stamens are shorter than the tepals. Photos from Cameron McMaster of wild plants growing near Napier in the Overberg.
Agapanthus campanulatus is found in moist grassland, on rocky hillsides from the Eastern Cape to the Northern province. It is deciduous and grows in colonies and has light to dark blue flowers with darker blue stripes. It blooms summer to fall. Photos by Cameron McMaster.
Agapanthus 'Ellamae' Flowered after spending its first northern winter below an east facing window. Moved outside when things warmed up here in New Jersey. From Plant Delights Photo by Arnold Trachtenberg
Agapanthus hybrids These plants were given to me by Jim Robinett he grew from seed he collected from plants he admired growing in Washington state. Most of them are dark purple, but one was white with purple tinges on the tips. I assume they are hybrids. They bloom in summer and are mostly evergreen. Photos by Mary Sue Ittner.
Agapanthus inapertus is a late blooming species noted for its strongly tubular pendulous flowers, typically deep blue with some cultivars reaching an almost navy blue intensity. Deciduous and thriving with lots of water. Although often considered tender, mine has handled -8°C without problem. Photo: Jamie Vande. More information about this species can be found on this link to the South African National Biodiversity Institute's web page.
Agapanthus inapertus subsp. pendulus 'Graskop' flowering in the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, Cape Town. Photo: Rogan Roth. More info on this most amazing cultivar can be found at link.
Agapanthus praecox is an evergreen plant from the southeastern Cape growing in stony slopes and grassland from the southeastern Cape to KwaZulu-Natal. It can be quite tall and has white to medium blue flowers with stamens as long as the tepals. Photos by Cameron McMaster.
Photo below by Paul Tyerman of a plant in Australia that was labeled Agapanthus africanus but is likely to be A. praecox instead or a hybrid.
