Agapanthus

Agapanthus, also known as African Lily, is a must-have for summer colour. From mid-summer into autumn, they produce wonderful rounded heads of trumpet-like flowers, held high on strong, upright stems above clumps of strap-shaped leaves. They are a brilliant choice for attracting bees and butterflies to the garden.

Plants form a dense clump of foliage and can range in height from smaller 20-60cm varieties to taller types reaching up to 1.5 metres. They thrive in a sunny, sheltered spot in well-drained soil. They are quite drought-tolerant once they’re established, making them a great option for gravel gardens or for those of us on heavier clay, provided you add plenty of grit for drainage when planting.

For the best flowers, feed your plants with a high-potash liquid feed (like a tomato feed) every couple of weeks during the growing season. There’s no need for major pruning, but removing the flower stalks after they fade keeps the plant looking tidy. In colder parts of the country, it’s a good idea to protect the plant’s crown over winter with a thick mulch of bark or straw.