Agapanthus africanus White Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS
Agapanthus africanus White — 9cm / 0.5L
White African Lily

Agapanthus africanus White

£10.99
Protect from hard frostSun-lovingEvergreenLoved by pollinators
Pot size
9cm / 0.5L £10.99

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Description

The Agapanthus africanus, the white-flowered form of the African Lily, is one of the most elegant summer performers you can grow in a pot or a sheltered border. Broad, strap-shaped evergreen leaves form a neat clump, and from late summer tall stems carry rounded umbels of pure white, trumpet-shaped flowers that glow against the deep green foliage. Native to the Western Cape of South Africa, this is a sun-loving, coastal-toned plant that brings a clean, architectural note to exotic borders and patio displays alike.

Unlike the fully hardy deciduous hybrids, evergreen Agapanthus africanus is half-hardy (RHS H3) and keeps its leaves through winter, so it needs a little more care in cold gardens. What actually finishes off this plant is a soggy winter rather than a cold one: sit those fleshy roots in damp, waterlogged ground for months and they rot away long before frost could do the job, so sharp winter drainage is essential. Grow it in gritty, free-draining compost, keep it on the dry side once dormant, and in exposed or colder areas move containers under cover or into a frost-free spot from autumn. In mild coastal gardens it can stay outside year-round given excellent drainage and a dry winter mulch.

Agapanthus flower best when their roots are slightly restricted, which makes them superb plants for pots on a sunny terrace. Water freely and feed through spring and summer to fuel those big flower heads, then ease off in autumn as growth slows. The nectar-rich blooms are a magnet for bees, so it earns a place among plants for pollinators as well as making a striking cut flower. For more on how these tender exotics behave through the seasons, see our hardy exotics guide.

Part of our wider hardy exotics range, every white Agapanthus africanus we supply is nursery-grown, selected for a strong root system and a healthy evergreen crown, and packed with care to arrive in top 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 White African Lily

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 White African Lily

Agapanthus africanus White 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), happiest when shielded from sodden winters and hard frost.

Position

Full sunEast-facingSouth-facingWest-facingSheltered

full sun in a warm, sheltered spot, ideally against a south or west-facing wall.

Soil

ChalkClayLoamSandMoist but well-drainedAcid pHAlkaline pHNeutral pH

any fertile, free-draining soil or gritty compost, from chalk to loam, across the full pH range. Winter drainage matters most.

Watering

Water freely and feed with a high-potash feed through spring and summer while in growth and flower, keeping the compost moist but never sodden. Reduce watering sharply in autumn and keep almost dry over winter. Agapanthus flower best when slightly pot-bound, so only pot on every few years. Read moreShow less

Water freely and feed with a high-potash feed through spring and summer while in growth and flower, keeping the compost moist but never sodden. Reduce watering sharply in autumn and keep almost dry over winter. Agapanthus flower best when slightly pot-bound, so only pot on every few years.

Mature size

Height0.5-1 m
Spread0.1-0.5 m

Reaches full size in 2-5 years

Growth habit

Clump-forming

Flowering

Aug-Sep · White

Seasonal colour

Foliage

Evergreen

Pruning

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

Toxicity

Harmful if eaten. All parts contain saponins that can cause mouth and stomach irritation in people, dogs and cats, and the sap may irritate skin, so wear gloves when dividing or handling plants.

Native range

South Africa (W. Cape)

Family

Amaryllidaceae

Also known as

Agapanthus africanus White

Genus

Agapanthus →
Good to know

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Agapanthus africanus hardy in the UK?

Evergreen Agapanthus africanus is half-hardy (RHS H3) rather than fully hardy, so it needs protection in most of the UK. The biggest risk is cold, wet winter soil rather than frost alone, because waterlogged ground rots the fleshy roots, so sharp drainage is essential. In colder gardens grow it as one of our plants for pots and move it somewhere frost-free over winter; in mild coastal gardens it can stay outside given excellent drainage and a dry mulch.

Does Agapanthus africanus lose its leaves in winter?

No. Unlike the fully hardy deciduous hybrids, Agapanthus africanus is evergreen and holds its strap-shaped leaves all year, including through winter. Because the foliage stays active it is more tender than the deciduous types, which is why it is best kept on the dry side and protected from hard frost and cold, wet soil in winter.

Can you grow Agapanthus africanus in pots?

Absolutely. Agapanthus flower best when their roots are slightly restricted, so they make ideal plants for pots and containers on a sunny terrace. Use a gritty, free-draining compost, water and feed well in summer, and keep pots on the dry side in winter. Growing in pots also makes it easy to move the plant under cover during cold, wet spells.

Why is my Agapanthus not flowering?

The usual reasons are too much shade, too much nitrogen feed, or roots that are not yet restricted enough. Give it full sun in a warm, sheltered spot, switch to a high-potash feed in summer, and resist potting on too often, as agapanthus flower best when slightly pot-bound. Newly divided or repotted plants often skip a season before settling into a reliable flowering rhythm.

Is Agapanthus africanus poisonous to dogs and cats?

Agapanthus is harmful if eaten. All parts contain saponins that can cause mouth irritation and stomach upset in people, dogs and cats, and the sap may irritate skin, so wear gloves when dividing plants. It is best kept out of reach of pets and children, though serious poisoning is rare unless large amounts are eaten.

When does Agapanthus africanus flower?

Expect its rounded umbels of pure white, trumpet-shaped flowers from around midsummer into early autumn, typically August and September in the UK. A hot, sunny position and a high-potash feed bring on the strongest flowering. It makes a superb cut flower and a nectar-rich draw for bees, earning its place among our plants for pollinators.

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

Plants delivered the way they deserve

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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