Agapanthus hybridus Vallée de la Sarthe

Agapanthus 'Vallée de la Sarthe' is adorned in summer with large umbels of pure white flowers, very bright. They emerge from a beautiful tuft of vibrant green ribbon-like leaves that remain decorative in winter. Ideal in a white garden, in a pot or in the ground, it will create elegant borders or very flowery pots. Like all evergreen Agapanthus, this variety is not very hardy, but particularly suited to the Atlantic coast or the Mediterranean coast. And its flowers can be used to create beautiful bouquets.

Agapanthus are plants of the lily family originating from South Africa. Several species have been extensively hybridized by horticulturists in search of new colours, more compact and hardier plants, better adapted to our climates. The 'Vallée de la Sarthe' cultivar was selected by P. Turc in Anjou, France. This variety is named after the Sarthe River, which flows into the Loire near Angers. This perennial plant develops and multiplies rapidly from a stump with fleshy rhizomes, forming over time a dense tuft of linear foliage, of a vibrant and shiny green, about 40cm (16in) in all directions. Flowering, abundant, takes place between late June and late August depending on the climate. Numerous cylindrical flowering stems about 80-90cm (32-35in) tall emerge from the foliage tuft. They bear at their tip hemispherical umbels 15-20cm (6-8in) in diameter, composed of numerous campanulate flowers in the shape of flared trumpets. Each flower is composed of 6 petals fused into a tube at the base, pure white in colour. The shiny and vibrant green foliage of this variety persists in winter. 

Agapanthus 'Vallée de la Sarthe' stands out in the garden or on the terrace, especially in a contemporary or exotic setting. This new variety will easily adapt in our mild regions, especially if its stump is protected by a thick mulch in winter. Whether in a mass planting, as a border, in a large rockery, in a pot or planter, Agapanthus is suitable for a wide range of uses. It is particularly suited to coastal climates. 'Vallée de la Sarthe' is very beautiful, associated with other blue, mauve or white varieties in a minimalist setting. It is also very decorative in exotic-themed plantings with Dianella, Kniphofias, Hemerocallis, grasses and Cannas.