Agapanthus

Growing up in the Northwest, I spent lots of time outdoors. With a Grandma who loved gardening and a mom who spent time in the woods, I learned lots about the plants around me. I knew many plants, even though in the early stages of my life, I wasn’t interested in cultivating them. Knowing what to pick (huckleberries and blackberries), and what to leave alone (poison oak, stinging nettle) were the essential aspects of plants around me. Now, delving deeply into growing things, and traveling to exotic places, I’ve cultivated an interest in more unusual plants. Now always pushing the envelope and expanding my knowledge along with my plant palette has led me down the rabbit hole of lush tropical foliage and flowers.

Now you are probably wondering when I’m going to get to the point. The point is Agapanthus. Unbelievably varied, colorful, lush, and most importantly, hardy. In many areas of the world, Agapanthus is overused and spreads everywhere. Never seen in the Pacific Northwest before, it is now becoming more common. Hard to imagine the excitement it causes in my garden when they start to bloom. Starting with just one and afraid to believe that it survived the first winter, I had to have another. And another, and another. You get the picture. When I think I have enough, I make the mistake of visiting Dan Hinkley’s Windcliff garden and see many many more to add to the collection.
He’s been busy cultivating and naming, acquiring and planting varieties all over the property. The high bank where his garden sits is a perfect place to showcase his everchanging collection. Meanwhile, my collection of Blue Leap, Two Times Blue, Storm Cloud, Xera Hybrids, Summer Skies, Silver Baby and Graskop, are doing well and continuing to increase in bulk. Agapanthus arendsii ‘White Form’ has developed well and is impressive with a planting of Stipa gigantea. I’ve had ‘Queen Mum’ in a container for the last two years but will probably add it to the garden to see if it can take a sheltered spot. It is zone 8, but I have had some good luck with similar zone 8 plants if sited carefully.

Agapanthus Graskop

Agapanthus Arendsii

Agapanthus Graskop

Agapanthus Queen Mum

This year I’m adding a few more. The planting bed is under construction (black Plastic), and purchased plants are in a holding bed until it is ready.

Agapanthus’ Twister’ is a new variety with dark blue at the base and white at the edges of the flowers. So far it seems to be growing well and blooming well.

Agapanthus ’Blue Moon’ is a soft purple-blue with an overall wash of color. I’m thinking to plant it near some darker foliage to give it a good contrast. This is a Dan Hinkley find ***

There are two new ‘Drops’ from Dan as well Quink Drops which is the smaller cultivar, and Kwink Drops is the larger cultivar.

Agapanthus ’Phantom’ has a ghostly cast of lilac over the entire blossom, abundant and lush.

I’ll keep you posted on the success of these lovely blooms.  Until then, be sure to take a look at my previous post about Agapanthus.