Agapanthus africanus Blue Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS
Agapanthus africanus Blue — 17cm / 2L17cm / 2L
African Lily (Lily of the Nile)

Agapanthus africanus Blue

£14.99
Protect from hard frostSun-lovingEvergreenLoved by pollinators
Pot size
17cm / 2L £14.99

FREE tracked delivery on orders over £60

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Description

The Agapanthus africanus, widely loved as the African Lily or Lily of the Nile, is one of the most striking summer perennials you can grow. It sends up tall, slender stems topped with rounded umbels of deep blue, trumpet-shaped flowers held above glossy, strap-like evergreen leaves. Native to the Western Cape of South Africa, this is the true evergreen species, prized for the intensity of its colour and for the way it performs in pots on a hot, sunny patio.

It is worth knowing that the evergreen Agapanthus africanus is noticeably less hardy than the familiar deciduous garden hybrids. Rated RHS H3, it is happy outdoors only in mild coastal and southern gardens and tolerates around -5C at most. Soggy ground is far more dangerous to it than a cold snap: park those fleshy roots in waterlogged winter soil and they rot far faster than frost could ever manage. Sharp winter drainage is therefore essential, and in colder gardens it is best grown in a container that can be moved to a frost-free porch or greenhouse from late autumn until spring.

Agapanthus africanus is superb in containers, and a little root restriction actually encourages a stronger show of flowers, which makes it a natural choice for our plants for pots and containers. It also earns a place at the front of a warm exotic border and shines in mild coastal and seaside gardens. The nectar-rich summer umbels are a magnet for bees, so it sits happily among our plants for pollinators. To see the wider range, browse all of our hardy exotics, and read how these plants behave through the year on our what to expect guide.

Every African Lily we send out is nursery-grown and hand-selected for a healthy clump and strong roots, then carefully packed to arrive in superb condition.

Live Arrival Guarantee

All plants are covered by our 7-day live arrival guarantee. We pack every order in protective, sustainable packaging designed to keep your plants safe in transit, and every plant is checked before it ships. On the rare occasion something is not right on arrival, we will make it good, provided the plant is still in its original nursery pot.

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What to Expect

Seasonal by nature: what to expect

  • Grown outdoors, the way nature intended. Weather-tested and hardened in real UK conditions, so they thrive in your garden. A few marks on the older leaves are normal, the sign of a tough, real plant rather than a flaw.
  • It follows the seasons. Depending on when you order, your plant may arrive cut back, dormant or leafless. That's healthy: dormancy is the ideal time to plant.
  • Posted, not posed. Big leafy plants like bananas and gingers may be trimmed or gently folded to travel safely. It does the plant no harm, and it powers away again in spring.

Not sure what to expect from yours? Dormant, cut-back or weather-marked plants are all perfectly healthy and normal. Read what to expect through the seasons

Delivery & returns

Order by 1pm Monday to Friday for same day dispatch. Every plant travels in protective, plant-safe packaging with tracked delivery.

Changed your mind? See our Return Policy.

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How to care for African Lily (Lily of the Nile)

Plant me in full sun and protect me when hard frost threatens.

In their words

What our customers say

Arrived just like the photos - maybe even fuller. Healthy, well-acclimated, and straight into my collection with no issues.

Emily P.

Flawless leaves, stunning variegation, and clearly cared for by experts. It’s already a talking point in my home office.

James R.

Hard to find rare plants that are pet-safe. Ours arrived in perfect condition and looks amazing without any worry.

Sophie L.
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About African Lily (Lily of the Nile)

Agapanthus africanus Blue needs full sun and moist but well-drained soil. It is half-hardy to around −5°C and needs protection from hard frost.

Good for

Coastal & Exposed Exotic Borders Pots & Containers Wildlife & Pollinators

Hardiness

TenderVery hardy

RHS H3 · Semi-hardy · down to around −5°C

half-hardy (RHS H3), so guard it from hard frost and, most of all, from a wet winter.

Position

Full sunSouth-facingWest-facingEast-facingSheltered

full sun in a warm, sheltered spot; the more sun it gets, the more freely it flowers.

Soil

ChalkClayLoamSandMoist but well-drainedAcid pHAlkaline pHNeutral pH

fertile, moist but sharply free-draining soil or a loam-based compost, and never wet over winter.

Watering

Water freely through spring and summer while the plant is in active growth and flower, keeping the compost moist but never sodden. Reduce watering sharply from autumn and keep it almost dry over winter to protect the roots from rot. A high-potash feed every couple of weeks in summer boosts flowering, and a little root restriction in a pot also encourages a stronger display of blooms. Read moreShow less

Water freely through spring and summer while the plant is in active growth and flower, keeping the compost moist but never sodden. Reduce watering sharply from autumn and keep it almost dry over winter to protect the roots from rot. A high-potash feed every couple of weeks in summer boosts flowering, and a little root restriction in a pot also encourages a stronger display of blooms.

Mature size

Height0.6-0.9 m
Spread0.45 m

Reaches full size in 2-5 years

Growth habit

Clump-forming

Flowering

Jul-Sep · Blue

Seasonal colour

Foliage

Evergreen

Pruning

Evergreen. Remove spent blue flower stalks after flowering and clear old leaves from the clump in spring; no hard cutting.

Toxicity

Sap can irritate the skin and eyes, so wear gloves when handling. All parts are mildly toxic and are harmful if eaten by people and by pets such as cats and dogs.

Native range

S. Africa

Family

Amaryllidaceae

Also known as

Agapanthus africanus Blue

Genus

Agapanthus →
Good to know

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Agapanthus africanus hardy in the UK?

It is only half-hardy. Rated RHS H3, the evergreen Agapanthus africanus survives outdoors year-round only in mild coastal and southern gardens, tolerating around -5C at most. The main killer is not cold on its own but cold, wet winter soil, which rots the fleshy roots, so sharp winter drainage is essential. In colder gardens grow it in a pot and shelter it over winter. See our what to expect guide for seasonal care.

Is Agapanthus africanus evergreen or deciduous?

Agapanthus africanus is the true evergreen species, holding its glossy, strap-like leaves through the year in mild conditions. This is worth knowing, because the evergreen forms are noticeably more tender than the deciduous garden hybrids, so this plant needs a warm, sheltered spot and protection from hard frost and winter wet.

How do I overwinter Agapanthus africanus?

Grow it in a container so it can be moved into a frost-free porch, conservatory or greenhouse from late autumn until spring. Keep the compost almost dry over winter, as waterlogged, cold soil is far more damaging than frost alone. Sharp drainage matters most, which is why it does so well in our plants for pots and containers range.

Does Agapanthus africanus flower better in pots?

Yes. A little root restriction in a pot actually encourages a stronger show of flowers, so a snug container in full sun is one of the best ways to grow it. Feed with a high-potash fertiliser through summer for the best display. Browse our plants for pots and containers for more patio-friendly choices.

When does Agapanthus africanus flower?

It flowers through summer, roughly July to September, carrying rounded umbels of deep blue, trumpet-shaped blooms on tall stems above the foliage. The nectar-rich flowers are loved by bees, which makes it a good addition to our plants for pollinators.

Is Agapanthus africanus poisonous to dogs and cats?

It can be. All parts are mildly toxic and are harmful if eaten by people and by pets such as cats and dogs, so keep it out of reach of animals and children. The sap can also irritate the skin and eyes, so it is sensible to wear gloves when dividing or handling the plant.

Does my plant come with a pot?
Your plant will arrive in its nursery grow pot — the plastic pot it's been growing in. We don't include a decorative pot as standard, and there's a good reason for that: it means you get to choose one that fits your space and style, rather than being stuck with something that doesn't suit your home.

It also means you're not paying extra for a pot you might not want. The nursery pot is perfectly fine to keep your plant in for a while, just pop it inside a decorative cover pot or cache pot and you're good to go. When you're ready to repot (usually after a growing season or when roots start poking out the bottom), you can move it into something more permanent with fresh soil.

If you're not sure what size cover pot to go for, check the pot selector tool listed above, you'll want a decorative pot that's a centimetre or two wider than that to give it a comfortable fit.
How big will my plant be when it arrives?
Every plant on our site includes the pot size (e.g. 12cm) and, where possible, an approximate height. That's the most reliable way to set your expectations, photos can sometimes make a plant look larger or smaller than it really is.

If you're thinking "that sounds quite small for the price," here's something worth knowing: younger, smaller plants almost always adapt better to your home than larger ones. They adjust faster to your light and humidity, put out new growth more quickly, and tend to establish stronger root systems long-term. A plant that grows into your space will usually outperform one that was already big when it arrived.

That said, every plant is an individual. The one you receive may vary slightly in height, shape, or fullness compared to the photo, that's the nature of living things, not a quality issue. We select healthy, well-established specimens, and if you ever feel your plant doesn't match what you were expecting, just get in touch and we'll take a look.
What makes your plants different from the supermarket or garden centre?
There's a big difference between a plant that's been sitting under on a retail shelf and one that's been looked after and cared for by people who specialise in exactly this.

Our plants are grown in house or sourced from specialist nurseries, many of them varieties you simply won't find at your local garden centre or supermarket. Before anything leaves us, it's checked over by our horticultural team to make sure it's healthy, well-rooted, and ready to thrive in your home. We're not shifting volume off a pallet, we're choosing plants we'd want to keep ourselves.

When you buy from a supermarket, you get a plant and a generic care label. When you buy from us, you get the knowledge that comes with it, detailed care guidance, a team you can actually contact if something isn't going right, and the confidence that what's arriving has been looked after properly from the moment it was grown to the moment it reaches your door.

We're a specialist nursery first, not a retailer that happens to sell plants. That's the difference, and you'll see it the moment you open the box.
What should I do when my plant arrives?
First things first, unbox it as soon as you can. Plants don't love being in dark boxes any more than you would, and the sooner yours is out and breathing, the better.

Remove all the packaging carefully, give the soil a check with your finger, and water lightly if it feels dry. Then find it a spot with appropriate light, but avoid putting it straight into harsh direct sun or next to a radiator. Think of it like arriving somewhere new after a long journey: it needs a moment to adjust.

It's completely normal for your plant to look a little tired or droopy after transit. This is called transit stress, and most plants bounce back within a week or two. You might see a yellow leaf or some drooping, don't panic, and resist the urge to overwater or start repotting straight away.

Our advice for the first couple of weeks: leave it in its nursery pot, water it only when the top layer of soil feels dry, and let it acclimatise to your home's light, temperature, and humidity. Once it's settled in and showing signs of new growth, you can think about repotting or moving it to its permanent spot.

Every plant we sell comes with a care guide on the product page so you'll know exactly what it needs going forward. And if anything doesn't look right, get in touch with our team, we're always happy to help.
Will my plant survive being shipped?
Yes! and we go to serious lengths to make sure of it. Every plant is hand-packed by our team with protective wrapping and secure, custom-designed boxes to keep it stable and safe in transit. We've shipped hundreds of thousands of plants across the UK and our packaging methods have been refined over years to handle the bumps and jolts of delivery.

During colder months, we monitor weather forecasts and offer heat packs where needed to protect against frost. In extreme conditions, we may hold your order for a day or two rather than risk sending it out, we'd rather you wait an extra day than receive a stressed plant.

That said, plants are living things, and the occasional transit wobble can happen. If your plant arrives damaged or isn't in the condition you'd expect, just get in touch within 48 hours with a photo, and we'll make it right, whether that's a replacement or a full refund. No fuss.

The short version: we treat every box like it's going to someone who really cares about what's inside, because it is.
Why Grow Tropicals

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Packaged with Care

Packaged with Care

Every order is hand-packed in eco-friendly, protective packaging - refined through thousands of deliveries to ensure your plant arrives healthy, hydrated, and looking its best.

Backed by our Live Arrival Guarantee.

Perfect for Gifting

Perfect for Gifting

From rare collector’s pieces to easy-care favourites, our plants arrive fully potted and ready to enjoy. Add a personalised note at checkout for a thoughtful finishing touch.

Delivered fresh, beautiful, and gift-ready.

Sustainability at Heart

Sustainability at Heart

All plants are ethically sourced from trusted growers, never wild-collected. Every order ships carbon-neutral in minimal-waste packaging.

Good for your home - and the planet.

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Agapanthus africanus Blue
£14.99