Growing Hardy Agapanthus in the Pacific Northwest Leave a comment

Agapanthus (Agapanthus campanulatus) is a wonderful perennial within the Pacific Northwest. The colourful blooms present cool-toned colours in summer season, and the pest-free foliage is beautiful. Nothing is best than watching agapanthus blooms filled with bees within the late afternoon solar. However I’ve grown a number of varieties with solely blended success. So, within the true method of gardeners, I made a decision to succeed in out to an skilled agapanthus grower and breeder to get his recommendation.

Dan Hinkley has an exquisite backyard that includes many sorts of agapanthus. He additionally has a nursery mattress full of various cultivars bred by him and grown for retail commerce, a lot of which he names after highly effective girls he admires as a part of his ‘Willful Ladies of Windcliff’ sequence. There are a number of species of agapanthus, however Dan recommends two, each deciduous. Gardeners within the cooler elements of our area could have essentially the most success with the hybrids obtainable from these two species, and can get pleasure from two completely different bloom occasions that stretch the flowering season from June to September/October. The evergreen agapanthus varieties are usually not as hardy however will do properly in Northern California and within the South.

Bell agapanthus

Agapanthus campanulatus

Zones: 6–10, relying on the cultivar

Measurement: 2 to three toes tall and 15 to twenty inches huge

Bell agapanthus is the primary deciduous decide, and hybridization has made it one of many hardiest. This species begins blooming in June and continues till late summer season. Seedpods stay on the stems into the autumn. Hybrids of this species don’t all the time doc parentage, however massive, flat, strappy foliage is a definite indicator {that a} cultivar has been bred from a bell agapanthus.

‘Tornado’ (A. praecox subsp. orientalis × campanulatus ‘AMBIC001’, Zones 7–10) is new to the commerce and obtainable in most nurseries, with sturdy development and bicolor flowers. ‘Cobalt Blue’ (A. ‘Cobalt Blue’, Zones 7–10) and ‘Midnight Solar’ (A. ‘Midnight Solar’, Zones 8–11) are additionally good growers, and the variegated foliage on ‘Summer time Skies’ (A. ‘Summer time Skies’, Zones 6–10) is beautiful within the backyard, however it isn’t as floriferous as most agapanthus.

Drooping agapanthus

Agapanthus inapertus

Zones: 7–10

Measurement: 3 to 4 toes tall and 18 to 36 inches huge

Drooping agapanthus is the opposite deciduous species that Dan recommends, which produces nodding flowers that bloom later within the season and proceed from mid-September to October. Darkish blue ‘Graskop’ (Agapanthus inapertus spp. pendulus ‘Graskop’, Zones 7–9) has been very glad in my backyard. ‘Blue Moon’ (A. ‘Blue Moon, Zones 8–11), from the UK, has a lighter blue, rounded head. Dan Hinkley hybrids like ‘Ida Lynn’, ‘Martha Stewart’ (sure, that Martha), and ‘Lyn Grinstein’ (Zones 7–10) additionally develop in my backyard with gusto. And I’ve a beautiful one known as ‘Phantom’ that’s silvery grey with a slight blush of blue.

Agapanthus planting and care

The how-to of rising agapanthus is pretty easy. Full solar is a should for good flowering; some moisture is required within the spring and dryer circumstances in the summertime—an ideal match for the climate we usually get within the PNW. All agapanthus want good drainage. I choose to plant mine barely raised. They don’t wish to be coated with mulch, and I’ve usually seen the crown of some agapanthus left only a bit out of the soil to get some baking solar. They don’t wish to be crowded, root methods will overtake most different crops if planted too carefully, and they’re going to respect a little bit of fertilizer within the spring for optimum blooms.

I’m so trying ahead to seeing my agapanthus arising within the backyard. It’s going to imply that summer season is actually right here. The following tips will get you began on agapanthus gardening; it could even turn into an obsession.

Discover extra implausible summer season flowers for the Pacific Northwest:

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Susan Calhoun is the proprietor of Plantswoman Design in Bainbridge Island, Washington.

Pictures: Susan Calhoun

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