White Agapanthus: 7 varieties to discover

Agapanthus africanus 'Albus', an indispensable classic

With its large white umbels measuring 15 cm across, held well above the foliage, Agapanthus africanus or umbellatus ‘Albus’ should not be confused with Agapanthus praecox, even though they tend to hybridise in the wild.

This is a rare form that can reach 1 m in height. The foliage is semi-evergreen to evergreen, depending on the weather conditions. As it is not very hardy (-5°C), this agapanthus will thrive in a mild climate, particularly by the coast. In northern France, it will need to be grown in a pot or planter.

It will look particularly attractive with, for example, Buenos Aires verbena or other agapanthus with blue or mauve flowers for a refined look.

(Photo Maria de la lue wischnew)

Agapanthus 'Graphite White', a highly architectural variety

Agapanthus ‘Graphite White’ is a hybrid of rare elegance that reaches 90cm in height, with dark flower stems bearing tin-coloured highlights. These emphasise the whiteness of the large 10 to 15cm umbels and create a striking contrast with its bright green foliage. In autumn, the deciduous foliage dies back.

Hardy down to -15°C, this variety can be planted in beds in the open ground in many regions.

It will combine beautifully with Agapanthus ‘Graphite Blue’ and with ornamental grasses in light shades, such as Stipa or feather grass, which will highlight the dark stems of this unusual beauty. Also consider topiary plants to accompany these architectural agapanthus and create a very minimalist, contemporary-style garden.

Agapanthus 'Pitchoune White', the small variety with great potential

Agapanthus ‘Pitchoune White‘ has a more compact habit than most agapanthus, making it ideal for borders or growing in pots. When in flower, it reaches a maximum height of 60 cm, making it a perfect choice for small spaces.

Its pure white umbels are very compact and measure 12 to 15 cm in diameter. Flowering is very abundant in summer and continues until September. Its attractive evergreen foliage also provides interest in the garden or on the balcony all year round if winters are mild.

Hardy down to -5 °C, this agapanthus can be planted at the front of beds in regions with mild winters, and grown in a pot elsewhere. Choose a container that is wide enough to allow the plant to produce beautiful flower stems.

Agapanthus ‘Pitchoune White’ can be paired with its relative ‘Pitchoune Blue’. It also looks superb with hollyhocks or plants with grey or glaucous foliage, such as lavender cotton or pinks.

Agapanthus 'Queen Mum', a rare and delicate touch of blue

Here is a rare variety! Indeed, Agapanthus ‘Queen Mum’ is one of the few agapanthus varieties to produce bicoloured flowers: they are bluish at the base and pure white at the tips. It flowers from June to August, much to the delight of the eye.

This large agapanthus reaches 1 m in height at maturity and is not very hardy (-5 °C). It will therefore be better suited to a coastal area or an urban garden. Its foliage is evergreen in mild climates, however, so it continues to provide interest in the garden even in winter.

This agapanthus can be paired with other flowers in blue or mauve shades, such as Nepeta or Delphinium, for example, and you will create a wonderfully delicate English cottage garden.

Agapanthus 'Enigma': two-colour flowers throughout the season

Agapanthus Enigma is another bicoloured agapanthus, but here the flowers change colour as the season progresses. The large compound umbels, made up of around thirty flowers, are almost entirely white at the beginning of flowering and become slightly bluish over time. In addition, the bronze-coloured flower stalks create a contrast that is sure to catch the eye.

The clump of dark green, linear foliage is evergreen, but only moderately hardy (-8 °C). It will therefore be perfectly suited to a large pot on the terrace. This plant will particularly appreciate summer rainfall.

With their blue tones, Perovskia and Nepeta will enhance this relatively small agapanthus, whose flowers reach 50 cm in height.

Agapanthus 'Strawberry Ice', probably the first pink-toned agapanthus

Here is a particularly unusual little agapanthus that has recently appeared on the market. Agapanthus ‘Strawberry Ice’ produces dense umbels 8 to 10 cm in diameter, made up of florets that are slightly pink around the edges. The cooler the temperatures and the more fully open the flowers, the more noticeable the pink colour becomes.

The clump of strap-shaped leaves is evergreen, with an upright rather than trailing habit. What is more, it has several advantages: in summer, it tolerates drought better than deciduous forms, and in winter, its evergreen foliage continues to attract attention. It is also relatively hardy down to -10 °C, making it possible to grow it in the open ground in many regions. However, there is nothing to stop you placing it in a pot, where it will majestically preside over your terrace. The plant reaches a height of 65 cm when in flower.

With its pastel shades, it is perfectly suited to a romantic-style garden, where you can pair it with other plants in pink or purple shades, such as the purple coneflower, loosestrife or foxglove. For a more modern style, it will combine beautifully with other mauve, white or blue agapanthus varieties.

Agapanthus 'Windsor Grey', with a thousand iridescent sparkles

The Agapanthus ‘Windsor Grey’ is exuberant and fascinating! Its giant umbels measure 18 cm across and have an elusive colour, a slightly greyish blue-white. In the sunshine, they seem to sparkle, as though covered in iridescent scales. Finally, before fading, they take on a subtle pink tint that is most surprising. Flowering takes place from August to September. It has a vigorous habit, with sturdy flower stems reaching 1.10 m in height, while the light green semi-evergreen foliage partially disappears in autumn. Moreover, thanks to its relatively good hardiness, this agapanthus can be grown in the open ground in most regions, provided it is given suitable winter protection.

This agapanthus’s vigour makes it an ideal variety for giving the garden a contemporary character, for example when combined with blue-grey ornamental grasses such as Panicum virgatum. Its highly charismatic presence will also be perfectly suited to an English cottage garden.

On the terrace, in a large pot that will show it off to best advantage, it will provide an unmissable focal point, while also making it easier to shelter for the winter. Because of its considerable size, Agapanthus ‘Windsor Grey’ is best placed at the back of beds or in the middle distance, surrounded by companions with grey foliage. It also produces splendid cut flowers that will look magnificent in a cut flower arrangement.