African Blue Lily is a clump-forming, evergreen perennial in the amaryllis family (Amaryllidaceae) native to southern South Africa. It is a popular garden plant, especially in Mediterranean climates, but is considered a weed in parts of Australia. The Genus name is derived from the Greek agapé, love, and anthos , flower. The specific epitaph means early, premature, unseasonable or precocious in Latin. The plant will grow in clumps up to 32 inches and spread 2 feet wide, but flowering stems can reach 5 feet tall. Plant rhizomes in well-drained fertile moist soils in full sun for best flowering. Plants will lean towards the sun, so south-facing is best. Propagate by division as needed. The long evergreen strap-like leaves form an attractive clump year-long. The flowers appear in mid to late summer in a terminal cluster with many individual tubular flowers with 6 petals and a darker strip down the center. They are in shades of blue and white. This plant is best grown in a pot and brought in the house or greenhouse in the winter in zones north of 8. Warmer climates can use them in the garden in the border or groups. They can also be grown in a large pot for the patio. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Diseases include Botrytis rot, root rot, powdery mildew, Verticillium wilt and Macrophoma agapanthii. Pests include aphids, scales, spider mites, mealy bugs and snails. More information on Agapanthus .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Arching; Erect
Texture
Medium
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Rosulate
Leaf shape
Lanceolate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Glossy
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Evergreen leaves are long and strap-like 12-24 inches long and 1 inch wide.
Flower color
Blue; White
Flower value
Good Cut; Long Bloom Season; Showy
Flower form
Umbel
Flower shape
Tubular
Flower detail
Flowers are in a terminal cluster up to 5 inches across. Each tubular flower is blue or white, with 6 petal-like parts and a darker stripe down the center of the petals.
Bloom time
Fall; Summer
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit detail
3-sided elongated capsule with many seeds
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
Hollow thick green stems
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
South Africa, E. Cape Prov. to KwaZulu-Natal.
Wildlife value
Attracts bees and butterflies to the nectar-rich flowers.
Poisonous through ingestion and dermatitis. Symptoms may include irritation of skin and eyes from cell sap. Irritation and ulceration of mouth if ingested.