Agapanthus Blue Jeans

The Agapanthus hybrid Blue Jeans is a recent variety of Agapanthus that has many advantages: a very colourful flowering, in navy blue umbels, a quick flowering from the first year of cultivation, a medium stature that is suitable for both flower pots and ornamental beds, and a respectable resistance to cold. Its beautiful inflorescences open in groups in summer, illuminating any setting. This pretty deciduous variety thrives in full sun, in ordinary but well-drained soil, not too dry in summer.

Agapanthus plants belong to the lily family and are native to South Africa. Several species have been extensively hybridized by horticulturists in search of new colours, more compact and hardy plants, better adapted to our climates. The Blue Jeans cultivar was recently selected in northern France where it performed very well despite the cool and damp winter. This plant develops and multiplies rapidly from a stump with fleshy rhizomes, forming from spring onwards a dense clump of linear foliage, with a minimum diameter of 40-50cm (16-20in), expanding over time. The flowering takes place in summer, from June-July to August-September, even on young plants. Several sturdy flower stalks, on average 60cm (24in) tall, emerge from the foliage clump. At their tip, they bear hemispherical umbels of 10-12cm (4-5in) in diameter, composed of numerous small campanulate flowers with flared trumpets. Each flower has 6 fused petals at the base, blue in colour. Each petal is crossed by a fine line of an even darker blue. The foliage of this variety disappears in winter, as it is deciduous. This variety is hardy up to about -8/-10°C (17.6/14°F).

Agapanthus Blue Jeans will quickly become the new star of the garden: with its deep blue inflorescences that stand out from a well-filled clump, it is impossible to miss. This variety will bring a contrasting and lush touch to flower beds. It will easily adapt to many regions that are not too cold, especially if its stump is protected by a thick winter mulch. Whether in flower beds, borders, large rockeries, pots or containers, Agapanthus is suitable for a wide range of uses. It is particularly suited to mild coastal climates. 'Blue Jeans' looks beautiful when combined with other compact varieties in light blue, mauve or white, in a minimalist setting. It is also very decorative in beds with an exotic feel, with Kniphofias, Hemerocallis, grasses and Cannas.