Agapanthus African Skies - African Lily

The Agapanthus 'African Skies' is a sought-after variety for its large flowers and magnificent gentian blue colour. It is a very ornamental perennial plant that blooms remarkably generously throughout the summer. It adds a touch of exotic beauty to sunny borders and serves as a structural element on a terrace. Suited to mild climates, it retains its foliage in winter and its well-protected stump can withstand temperatures down to -7°C.

The Agapanthus 'African Skies' belongs to the Amaryllidaceae family, like all agapanthuses. It is a horticultural hybrid selected for its large, colourful flowers and its long and abundant flowering.

With an elegant appearance, this Agapanthus 'African Skies' forms a dense clump of linear, arched, glossy green leaves measuring about 40 to 50 cm long. Its flowering stems reach up to 90 cm in height, bearing spherical umbel inflorescences composed of many small trumpet-shaped flowers. These bright light blue flowers are 3 to 5 cm long. Each umbel measures 25 to 30 cm in diameter. The flowering period is from July to September. The theoretically evergreen foliage will be destroyed by frost below -5°C.

The rhizomatous roots of Agapanthus 'African Skies' enable it to withstand dry periods, although it prefers regular watering during the warm season. Its growth is moderately fast, reaching its adult size within a few years. This perennial requires well-drained soil, ideally enriched with organic matter, and thrives in full sun. It can tolerate temperatures down to -7°C, but must be protected or grown in a pot in regions with harsh winters.

The Agapanthus 'African Skies' is perfect for structuring borders or creating edging along pathways. Its slender stems and spectacular flowers bring verticality to all plant compositions. It blends perfectly in Mediterranean gardens, contemporary gardens, or even on urban terraces where it can be grown in a pot. When combined with other perennial plants, it creates stunning colour and texture contrasts. For a harmonious effect, it can be paired with grasses like Pennisetum 'Black Beauty' or perennials such as Gaura 'Rosy Jane'. It pairs well with agapanthuses of other colours like 'Black Pantha' for a strong contrast, or softer varieties like 'White Heaven'. In a flowerbed, the Daylily 'Stella de Oro' and the Salvia nemorosa 'Caradonna' are also beautiful companions, offering complementary flowering periods.