Agapanthus, Lily of the Nile, African Lily 'Headbourne Hybrids'

I echo the remarks about their hardiness. Three mature plants growing in, frankly, disgustingly heavy clay soil in Belfast Northern Irela...Read Morend survived the coldest winter on record in 2010/1.
Most 'tough' plants that can withstand poor soil and bad weather, I find are usually fairly unattractive, but these are truly beautiful and seem to be able to tolerate neglect and very poor conditions.

I tried these as a propogation experiment this year. 28 seeds were sown to a shallow tray on March 10, 2010, barely covered and placed i...Read Moren a window to keep them cool (the packet said 60 degrees). The first week of April, I had 10 sprouts with grass-like leaves. By April 8, I had a total of 21 sprouts, the largest about 1" tall. By April 24, I had a total of 24 sprouts. I transplanted the seedlings the week of May 8 to individual 2 1/4" peat pots. Hardened off mid May. I didn't plant them to a larger container until the end of June because they were still very small. They are now 12" tall, but I lost 2 to a foraging chipmunk. Will plant some 2 ft from where they have been growing, the rest on the south side of the house. Stay tuned for an update next Spring.

UPDATED April 2011: Success! All 5 wintered under shelter have broken winter dormancy, 4 with multiple shoots. 14 planted near where they were growing last year have returned, about half with multiple shoots. 2 of the ones planted on the south side of the house have returned. That means I lost 2 over the winter. I would say that makes these guys hardy in zone 6. Will update again when I get flowers.

UPDATED August 2012: I kept several of these in a large pot that has been sheltered over winter and was surprised by 3 flower heads this summer. Blooms opened the first week of July and lasted most of the month. Plants in the garden have not yet bloomed.

Strap-shaped leaves & sturdy 2-4' exclamation-mark stems. Lovely blue flower globes. Perennial to zone 8.