Lily of the Nile – Agapanthus

A few times over the years I’ve spotted some wonderful blue-purple Lily of the Nile in various gardens. They bloom in the late spring/early summer and add a spectacular splash of color to a garden.

Lily of the Nile (agapanthus) are members of the Amaryllis family. All the varieties of agapanthus are native to South Africa. They can now be found worldwide. In some places, they are invasive species, including in New Zealand where some agapanthus have been classified as an environmental weeds.

These beautiful summer blooming perennials can grow to 5-6 feet tall. The ones I’ve photographed were about 2 feet tall. They have a tall stalk with a globe of blue or white flowers at the top.

The native South African varieties of Lily of the Nile are hardy in the US Zones 9 – 11. Some cultivars are hardy to zone 7.

The two Lily of the Nile varieties I’ve photographed are Ellamae (photographed in 2009) and Blue Nile (photographed in 2012).

So far I’ve only seen and photographed the blue-purple Lily of the Nile. I’d love to photograph some white ones. Does anyone know any gardens in the DC area that have white Lily of the Nile growing in them?