African lily
Agapanthus africanus
African lily is a perennial for focal point, mid-border, suited to full sun and clay, loam or sandy soil, flowering Jul, Aug, Sep.
| Type | Perennial |
|---|---|
| Mature height | 90 cm |
| Spread | 60 cm |
| Aspect | full sun |
| Foliage | Deciduous |
| Hardiness | USDA 8a-10b, RHS H3 |
| Pollinator-friendly | Yes |
| Pet-safe | No |
Where to use it in a border
At around 90 cm, it sits best toward the back of a border, or on its own as a focal point with room around it. Give it about 60 cm of room to spread. It is hardy across USDA zones 8a to 10b and rated H3 by the RHS, so check it suits your area before planting.
It appears in our lists of full sun, clay soil, sandy soil, pollinator-friendly plants.
Border Builder uses African lily's height, spread, soil, bloom months and companions to place it in a full border plan for your own conditions, on iPhone and iPad.
Flowering through the year
Worth knowing
- Not recorded as pet-safe; site it away from pets that graze if that matters to you.
- Its flowers are valued by bees and other pollinators.
Good companions
Plants that share its conditions and style, chosen to complement its place in the border:
- Abelia 'Kaleidoscope'to flower when it does not
- Bird of Paradisefor height behind it
- Blue Fescueto edge in front
- Bottlebrush 'Little John'to flower when it does not
- Bottlebrush 'Splendens'for height behind it
- Bougainvillea 'Barbara Karst'for height behind it
Garden styles
Sources
Bloom timing and hardiness drawn from: