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Amaryllidaceae FAMILY

Agapanthus campanulatus

Agapanthus campanulatus

Edibility
0/5
Medicinal
2/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Cultivation Details

HabitDeciduous Bulb
Growth—

Agapanthus campanulatus is found in the summer-rainfall areas of southern Africa. It grows where the mean annual rainfall is in excess of 500mm, its season starting with the onset of the rains, the plant then going dormant as the dry season progresses[1]. Plants are probably hardy to about -15°c[2], but are best if given a good mulch should temperatures lower than -5°c occur[3]. Succeeds in most soils[4] but it prefers a light very well-drained porous soil with plenty of leaf-mould[3]. Requires plenty of moisture during the growing season but it needs to be kept dry in the winter[5, 3]. It only flowers freely when growing in a very sunny position[4]. Plants succeed in maritime gardens[6]. The rhizomes are best planted only just below soil level - a mulch of gravel or stone chips will help to keep the crown of the plant free from excess moisture[7]. This species is a bit slow to settle down after being divided and so it is best to restrict division to once every 6 years or longer[1]. Hybridizes very freely with other members of this genus - some botanists say there is only one very variable species of Agapanthus[3]. A number of named varieties have been selected for their ornamental value[2]. Plants seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[6]. Plants are usually pest and disease-free, although Agapanthus species in general are famous for harbouring snails amongst their foliage. These snails do not usually cause any damage to the plants themselves but go to neighbouring plants for food[1]. The flowering stems lean towards the sun[4].

Propagation

Seed - best sown in a greenhouse as soon as it is ripe[3], it can also be sown in a greenhouse in early to mid spring[8]. The seed usually germinates in 1 - 3 months at 18°c[8], do not sow it too thickly so that it is possible to grow the seedlings on in their pot without disturbing them for their first year of growth. Give occasional liquid feeds to make sure they do not become nutrient deficient. Divide the seedlings up into individual pots in the spring following germination, grow them on for a further year in the greenhouse and then plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer. Seedlings take 2 - 3 years to flower[8]. Division of offsets in mid spring. Do not move plants between early autumn and early spring[4]. Division is very easy in the growing season, the divisions can be planed straight out into their permanent positions if required. Cite as: Temperate Plants Database, Ken Fern. temperate.theferns.info. 2026-02-20. <temperate.theferns.info/plant/Agapanthus+campanulatus>

Pollinators

Bees

References

  1. [1]PlantZAfrica.com — http://www.plantzafrica.com ↩︎An excellent site giving detailed descriptions and uses of many S. African plants.
  2. [2]Perennials. Volumes 1 and 2. — Phillips. R. & Rix. M. · Pan Books · 1991 · ISBN 0-330-30936-9 ↩︎Photographs of over 3,000 species and cultivars of ornamental plants together with brief cultivation notes, details of habitat etc.
  3. [3]The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. — Huxley. A. · MacMillan Press · 1992 · ISBN 0-333-47494-5 ↩︎Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
  4. [4]Focus on Plants. Volume 5. (formerly 'Growing from seed') — Bird. R. (Editor) · Thompson and Morgan. · 1991 · ISBN - ↩︎Very readable magazine with lots of information on propagation. A good article on Corydalis spp.
  5. [5]RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 — F. Chittendon. · Oxford University Press · 1951 · ISBN - ↩︎Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaced in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [ 200 ]).
  6. [6]Perennial Garden Plants — Thomas. G. S. · J. M. Dent & Sons, London. · 1990 · ISBN 0 460 86048 8 ↩︎A concise guide to a wide range of perennials. Lots of cultivation guides, very little on plant uses.
  7. [7]The Color Encyclopedia of Cape Bulbs — Manning. J. Goldblatt. P. & Snijman. D. · Timber Press, Oregon. · 2002 · ISBN 0-88192-547-0 ↩︎Excellent treatment of these plants, with good descriptions, habitat etc. Lots of high quality colour photographs.
  8. [8]Growing from Seed. Volume 1. — Rice. G. (Editor) · Thompson and Morgan. · 1987 · ISBN - ↩︎Very readable magazine with lots of information on propagation.
  9. [9]A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. — Usher. G. · Constable · 1974 · ISBN 0094579202 ↩︎Forget the sexist title, this is one of the best books on the subject. Lists a very extensive range of useful plants from around the world with very brief details of the uses. Not for the casual reader.