Also known as African bluebell, this deciduous clump-forming perennial is native to South Africa where it grows in the moist soils of grasslands, slopes, valley bottoms and cliffs. It is a member of the amaryllis family, Amaryllidaceae, that also includes daffodils, clivia, and onion. Plants grow 1.5-3′ tall and have a rhizomatous root system and 6-12 slender, glossy, green to grayish-green strap-shaped leaves that are up to 18″ long and have a purplish stem-like base. From mid to late summer plants produce umbels of 10-20 pale to deep blue bell-shaped flowers with a darker blue stripe and anthers bearing lilac-colored pollen. White flowered cultivars are available. There are 2 subspecies of A. campanulatus that vary most significantly in the length and spread of the lobes of the perianth tube and the shape of the umbel. Plants can be used as groundcovers, in borders, and are attractive when grown in containers. Both umbels and individual flowers are good cut flowers. The genus name, Agapanthus, comes from the Greek words agape meaning love, and anthos meaning flower. The specific epithet, campanalatus, is the Latin word campana, meaning bell-shaped and refers to the shape oaf the flowers.
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Bloom: Umbels of 10-20 pale to deep blue bell-shaped flowers in mid to late summer
Size: 1.5-3′ H x 1.5′ W
Light: Full sun
Soil: Fertile, consistently moist, well-drained
Hardiness: Zones 8-10
Care: Fertilize at the beginning of the growing season; divide every 6 years (plants take 1 year to bloom after dividing)
Pests and Diseases: None of significance
Propagation: Division, seed
Companion Plants: Day lilies, butterfly bush, coneflower
Outstanding Selection: ‘Albidus’ (white flowers)
Karen Meyers