Agapanthus Agapanthus praecox
Agapanthus (Agapanthus praecox) is an evergreen perennial flowering plant in the Amaryllidaceae family. It grows 60 cm–1.2 m (24 in–3.9 ft) tall and 50–80 cm (20–31 in) wide, wants full sun and low water, and is hardy to about -5 °C (23 °F). Space plants about 60 cm (24 in) apart.
Plan Agapanthus in your garden →
Free. Draw your beds, then watch it grow through the year in 2D and 3D.
Agapanthus at a glance
| Type | Perennial flowering plant, evergreen |
|---|---|
| Family | Amaryllidaceae |
| Mature height | 60 cm–1.2 m (24 in–3.9 ft) |
| Mature spread | 50–80 cm (20–31 in) |
| Spacing | 60 cm (24 in) centre to centre |
| Sun | Full sun, at least 6 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | Low; drought tolerance high, waterlogging tolerance none |
| Cold hardiness | About -5 °C (23 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 9) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 36 °C (97 °F) |
| Flowering | from about June for 6–10 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones) |
| Wind tolerance | Moderate |
| Pollinator value | High |
| Edible | Not grown as food |
| Common in gardens of | 🇿🇦 South Africa, 🇦🇺 Australia, 🇬🇧 United Kingdom, 🇺🇸 United States, 🇮🇹 Italy, 🇪🇸 Spain, 🇵🇹 Portugal, 🇰🇪 Kenya, 🇪🇹 Ethiopia, 🇦🇷 Argentina, 🇨🇱 Chile, 🇳🇿 New Zealand |
Is Agapanthus toxic?
- People: mildly toxic
- Cats: mildly toxic
- Dogs: mildly toxic
- Parts: sap, leaves, rhizomes
Sap irritates skin and can cause stomach upset if eaten.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Agapanthus
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like full sun and low water.
See Agapanthus in a botanical garden
It grows in these sample gardens, which you can walk through in 3D:
- UC Botanical Garden, Berkeley (8 plants)
- The Butchart Gardens (10 plants)
- Kirstenbosch (39 plants)
- Monet’s gardens at Giverny (16 plants)
- Kew: glasshouses and rock garden (5 plants)
- Riverside botanical garden (13 plants)
Questions about Agapanthus
- How far apart should I plant Agapanthus?
- About 60 cm (24 in) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 50–80 cm (20–31 in).
- Does Agapanthus need full sun?
- Full sun: at least 6 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Agapanthus need?
- Low water. Drought tolerance is high and waterlogging tolerance none.
- How cold-hardy is Agapanthus?
- It tolerates about -5 °C (23 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 9.
- When does Agapanthus flower?
- From about June for 6–10 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones).
- Is Agapanthus poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is mildly toxic; for dogs mildly toxic; for people mildly toxic. Sap irritates skin and can cause stomach upset if eaten.
- What grows well with Agapanthus?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Agapanthus. Group it with plants that like the same sun (full sun) and water (low).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade C (C: plausible, mixed evidence).
- ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, ASPCA
- FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper 56 — Crop Evapotranspiration, FAO
- RHS Plant Finder, Royal Horticultural Society
- University extension gardening guides (general), Various land-grant university extensions
Notes and assumptions
- Typical garden-cultivar values; varieties differ.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- Onion Allium cepa
- Daffodil Narcissus pseudonarcissus
- Garlic Allium sativum
- Leek Allium ampeloprasum (Porrum group)
- Chives Allium schoenoprasum
- Ornamental allium Allium giganteum
- Shallot Allium cepa var. aggregatum
- Welsh onion (scallion) Allium fistulosum