Previous plant

Agapanthus africanus

Next plant

Found this plant at Gisselfeld Kloster.


Blue flowers by Himesh Dilruwan Jayasinghe, Powo.science.kew.org.


The rather diserpointing bulb by Ori Fragman-Sapir, Powo.science.kew.org.

Author: Johann Centurius von Hoffmanns, 1894
Family:  ALLIACEAE*
Origin:  Southern South Africa
Soil:  Sand
Water:  Maximum
Sun:  Medium - Maximum
Thickness:  10 Centimetres
Height:  50 Centimetres
Flower:  White - Dark Blue
Propagate:  Seeds/Rhizomes
Names:  African Lily, Agapanthus, Lily Of The Nile, African Blue Lily
Synonyms:  Abumon africanum, Britton, 1918.
Agapanthus medius, Lodd. ex Steud.
Agapanthus minor, G.Lodd.
Agapanthus tuberosus, L. ex Redouté
Agapanthus umbellatus, L'Hér.
Agapanthus variegatus, Steud
Barbacenia goetzei, Harms..
Crinum africanum, L.
Crinum floridum, Salisb.
Mauhlia africana, Dahl
Mauhlia linearis, Thunb.
Mauhlia umbellata, Thunb. ex Schult. & Schult.f.
Tulbaghia africana, Kuntze
Tulbaghia heisteri, Fabr.
Tulbaghia minor, Kuntze

This member of the Alliaceae family was given this name by Johann Centurius von Hoffmanns in 1894. Is found in Southern South Africa. It grows on the upper slopes of Table mountain and the southern mountains, in a slightly acids sandy soil, with some water and lots of sun. The leaves can get 60 centimetres long, the flower can raise to one meter, and is from white to dark blue. The plant can be reproduced both by seeds and dividing of the rhizomes.

The species from Greek: Agapé = love and anthos = flower. The species name indicate it origin from Africa.

Seen as a (the only) member of the Agapanthaceae family, and MoBot says: Amaryllidaceae, and does not recognize Alliaceae.
')Accordantly to the latest taxonomic system; APG IV 2016, Alliaceae is now part of the Amaryllidaceae.


This is the more rare white form.