Agapanthus Vallée de la Loire

Agapanthus 'Vallée de la Loire' is a variety of Agapanthus with tall stature, intense blue umbel flowers, tinged with violet shades. They rise above a beautiful clump of ribbon-like leaves of a vibrant green, which remains decorative in winter. This selection was awarded at Courson for the quality of its blue colour. Like all evergreen Agapanthus, this variety is not very hardy, but less demanding in water than deciduous varieties. Particularly suitable for the Atlantic coast or the Mediterranean coast, this selection also adapts perfectly to pot culture, which allows it to overwinter in colder regions. 

Agapanthus are plants from the Amaryllidaceae family (formerly Liliaceae) native to 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 Loire' cultivar was selected by P. Turc in Anjou, France. This perennial plant develops and multiplies rapidly from a stump with fleshy rhizomes, forming over time a dense clump of linear foliage, of a vibrant green, 80cm (32in) to 1m (3ft) high and 40 to 50cm (16 to 20in) wide. The flowering, which is prolonged, is quite late for this variety and lasts for about two months. Numerous cylindrical flowering stems about 70cm (28in) tall emerge from the foliage clump. They bear at their tips hemispherical umbels, 15 to 20cm (6 to 8in) in diameter, composed of trumpet-shaped flowers. Each flower is composed of 6 fused tepals at the base, of an intense blue colour, crossed by a darker, violet line. The foliage of this variety remains evergreen in winter. It is hardy up to about -7°C (19.4°F).

Agapanthus 'Vallée de la Loire' can be planted in borders or pots. It brings a touch of exoticism to the garden or terrace and blends well in a contemporary setting. This variety easily adapts in our mild regions, especially if its stump is protected by a thick winter mulch. It is particularly suited to coastal climates. The Loire Valley is very beautiful and this cultvar bearing its name is no exception. Its true, intense blue colour combines with other varieties in shades of blue, mauve or white, in a sleek style. It is also very decorative in ensembles with an exotic connotation with Dianella, Kniphofias, Hemerocallis, grasses and Cannas.