Agapanthus in Scotland
My intention is to provide a profile of plants which are fully hardy in the north east of Scotland,which of course means they will be hardy in all parts of the country. However there are several which borderline the hardy agenda, which to a certain extent we have still had a degree of success.
For instance Agapanthus, although hardy,our Summers here in Aberdeen tend to fizzle out before the plants reach flowering stage. Good results can still be obtained if grown in containers.
Agapanthus Bressingham Blue
Agapanthus all have strap like leaves with tall flower spikes which open mid/late Summer . The hardiest are fully deciduous, the evergreen are a bit more tender. Those which are fully deciduous, after placing in the unheated greenhouse in late Autumn should not be watered until early spring, as the roots tend to rot, evergreen varieties should be lightly watered in winter.
Plant your Agapanthus in a reasonable sized container in April using John Innes No.3 compost mixed with a peat based general garden compost, good drainage is essential, place your container in a sunny position, it may not flower profusely in the first season.
Agapanthus Africanus Albus (evergreen)
Do not start the feeding regime until next season. In the first season,around late October place your container grown Agapanthus in the unheated greenhouse if it is the deciduous type, cut back the decaying leaves. Wrapping the plant pot in bubble wrap will give added protection,of course don’t wrap the surface of the pot with the bubble wrap.Start watering in March take care not to overdo it, give a general liquid feed in early/mid April. Place your plant in a sunny spot in the second week of May, feed with a tomato liquid fertilizer which will encourage flower bud development, repeat the tomato feeding in June.
Agapanthus campanulatus ‘Albovittatus
I find that if Agapanthus is left in the greenhouse until after late May they will not flower as well.
Agapanthus come in shades of pale blue right through to a dark rich blue, others of a pure white. Bressingham Blue is one of the dependable fully deciduous varieties, with tall dark blue flowers, very impressive.
Position – Full sun
Height – 60/90cm
Soil – Make a mix of John Innes No.3 and general garden compost.
Hi Paula, being on the Moray coast it is milder than Aberdeen, also we are situated in a frost pocket. The Agapanthus just doesn’t flower here if left in the borders. I wouldn’t concern yourself with them being near the hostas, just enjoy.
I have 3 in my garden in Banff, I planted them from bulbs in 2006 when I first tried my hand at gardening. They didnt flower for the first 2 years and then for the last 3 summers have flowered. I didn’t know what they were when i first planted them, although I did know they weren’t ‘weeds’ lol, but hoped that the bulbs would produce something at least. I have left them in the border each year as I had forgotten about them as they are planted 7″ away from a large hosta which produces nearly the same colour flower. It was only after seeing several in a neighbours garden that I realised my mistake and moved them to their own spot away from the hosta. I am hoping that the plants will continue to thrive as before – I must admit they have needed no looking after and I am wondering if being so close to the hosta helped protect them – I honestly don’t know. I am feeling a little guilty after reading how much care they should have received from me.
Yes Janet, I could put up with a lot of those weeds growing in our garden.
Montrose must be that bit more sheltered. Agapanthus grow and flower profusely in the border. I also grow them in pots just in case….They’re also a lovely cut flower. I’m amused that our family in NZ dismiss them as weeds!
You are very welcome Carolyn
Thanks for the visit Mike, will keep in touch
Hi thanks for your informative and helpful post. I enjoy growing agas in tubs down here in the south of england, i can then roll them out onto the terrace for display. i grow them in the ground as well and cover them with mounds of compost, they survived last year so lets hope they come back next spring. I spent my early years living in elgin so i am interested in what grows well up your way….mike
Beautiful photos—I love agapanthus. Unfortunately, it is zone 6 here, I don’t have a greenhouse, and there’s no sun at Carolyn’s Shade Gardens. It is probably just as well because I would kill it during my nursery season. Thank you for including the link to my plea for Tara. International cards will be especially fun. Carolyn
Yes, they really do make a statement
Thank you! It’s one of my favorites. The plants look like exclamation marks in the garden providing a vertical interest and attracting attention.
They do require exceptionally good drainage Lily. Always flowers best in a container when they become root bound. Your new plant may take a couple of years to settle down.
They do survive here Frances, just don’t flower unless given winter protection and started off in the greenhouse. I have to say though our garden is in a frost pocket.
Yes Eliza, what’s in and what’s out seems inappropriate in gardening, gets right up my nose.
Around 6 or so years ago it seemed like everyone in my area was going agapanthus crazy! I remember drooling over the specimens sold in the Plant Delights Catalog (located in neighboring North Carolina). I never did get one, though! Thanks for the reminder, I really have to try these out — they’re too pretty for me to care whether or not it is still “fashionable.” 🙂
hello Alistair, this follows my thinking that mainland and east Scotland are very different to the outer Hebrides, here Agapanthus do well outside, I bought some last winter but as they were so small I potted them up they are by the window in my unheated shed now but will be planted out, they were just sold as Agapanthus I didn’t know there are deciduous and evergreen as mine still have some green foliage they might be evergreen I had been thinking it was because they were in the shed with a bit of protection, hardiness is not a great deal of help when you are blasted with strong salt laiden gales so I am now looking at what does grow here, I love the deep rich blue of yours, Frances
Hello Alistair,
I bought a bareroot Agapanthus last year at a flower show. It was doing well in a container until we had a lot of rain and it rot. I have a small one of unknown variety growing in the basement from a friend. I hope to see it bloom this year.
You have a nice Agapanthus collection and Bressingham blue is to die for. Love that rich blue color. The last photo is great.
Agapanthus is a great plant Larry, start to flower better once they get root bound.
Hi Alistair… I knew a fellow who grew agapanthus in containers here years ago. They got huge and he had lots of room to store them over winter. I have not done well with them but do really like their look! Maybe I should try again as it’s been a very long time… Larry