Agapanthus Royal Velvet

Agapanthus 'Royal Velvet' is a new variety of Agapanthus that is very hardy, offering a flowering with a deep violet-purple colour of rare intensity: its umbels of dark flowers striped with very dark violet bloom in summer, dominating a beautiful tuft of luxuriant foliage. Not very tall but rather floriferous, this variety easily finds its place in the garden or in a large pot on the terrace. Despite its exotic charm as an austral plant, it is a deciduous and carefree plant that thrives in full sun, in ordinary but well-drained soil, not too dry in summer.

Agapanthus are plants from the lily family originating from 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 cultivar 'Royal Velvet', introduced to the market in 2018, was recently obtained in Great Britain. It is a descendant of Agapanthus praecox subsp. orientalis. This plant develops and multiplies rapidly from a rootstock with fleshy rhizomes, forming from spring onwards a dense tuft of linear foliage, dark green and shiny, with a minimum diameter of 60cm (24in), expanding over time. The flowering takes place in summer, in July-August. Solid stems averaging 90cm (35in) in height emerge from the foliage tuft. They bear at their tip hemispherical umbels of 10-12cm (4-5in) in diameter, composed of numerous small campanulate flowers. Each flower has 6 petals of a deep blue-violet colour with an almost black median line. They are carried by long peduncles. The foliage disappears completely in winter.

Agapanthus 'Royal Velvet' is becoming the new star of the garden: with its dark inflorescences that stand out from a well-filled tuft, it is impossible to miss. In addition to the elegance of its flowering, it is also very hardy, down to about -12/-15°C (10.4/5°F). This variety will bring an elegant and exotic touch to flower beds. It will easily adapt to many regions that are not too cold, especially if its rootstock is protected by a thick mulch in winter. Whether in flower beds, borders, large rockeries, pots or containers, Agapanthus is suitable for a wide range of uses. It is particularly well-suited to mild coastal climates. 'Royal Velvet' is very beautiful when associated with other mauve, blue or white varieties in a minimalist setting. It is also very decorative in flower beds with an exotic touch, along with Kniphofias, Hemerocallis, tall grasses, and Cannas.