Information about African Nile Lily

INFORMATION ABOUT AFRICAN NILE LILY...

Simply a delight to look at, the African Nile Lily makes for a very beautiful landscape. Also called the Lily of the Nile, or Agapanthus, this flower is very soft and romantic looking. Very appropriate, considering that the name Agapanthus comes from the Greek words meaning love and flower.

Originating from South Africa , the African Nile Lily is valued for its bluish purple flowers and contrasting deep green leaves. Although white varieties of this perennial do exist, the blue version is much more popular among gardeners.

Perhaps what is so striking about the African Nile Lily is the fact that each flower is a huge sphere made up of many smaller flowers - actually they are bell-shaped florets. Held up on a 2' sturdy stalk, the African Nile Lily can have as many as a dozen blooms at a time.

To get the most out of your African Nile Lily, plant in an area that gets full sun to light shade and make sure soil is kept moist (but not soggy). It should be fertilized every 2-3 weeks. The African Nile Lily has a long flowering period - from early summer to the beginning of fall.

Plant the African Nile Lily rhizomes about an inch deep and space 18-24 inches apart. When grown in containers (which is actually how they grow best), plant a single rhizome in a 12" pot or three in a 20" pot. It is recommended that you water and fertilize regularly for the best results, but amazingly these lovely flowers will endure almost total neglect.

The African Nile Lily is hardy in zones 7-11. They can be grown in colder zones, but must be planted deeper into the ground and lifted for the winter.

These amazing flowers will certainly draw attention to your garden. Whether in a border or in a pot, visitors are sure to fall in love with this blue beauty. The African Nile Lily truly is the flower of love.