Northern Star Agapanthus
Agapanthus 'Northern Star'
Plant Height: 18 inches
Flower Height: 24 inches
Spread: 18 inches
Sunlight:
Hardiness Zone: 7b
Other Names: Lily of the Nile, African Lily
Description:
This variety produces a mound of luxurious arching green foliage that is tinged violet at the base; dense clusters of deep blue flowers appear from mid to late summer on stiff stems; a perfect accent plant in the garden or massed along borders
Ornamental Features
Northern Star Agapanthus features bold clusters of sky blue trumpet-shaped flowers with royal blue stripes rising above the foliage from mid to late summer, which emerge from distinctive royal blue flower buds. The flowers are excellent for cutting. Its narrow leaves remain dark green in color with showy violet variegation throughout the year.
Landscape Attributes
Northern Star Agapanthus is an herbaceous evergreen perennial with a rigidly upright and towering form. Its medium texture blends into the garden, but can always be balanced by a couple of finer or coarser plants for an effective composition.
This plant will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and is best cleaned up in early spring before it resumes active growth for the season. It is a good choice for attracting bees and butterflies to your yard. It has no significant negative characteristics.
Northern Star Agapanthus is recommended for the following landscape applications;
- Accent
- Mass Planting
- General Garden Use
- Container Planting
Planting & Growing
Northern Star Agapanthus will grow to be about 18 inches tall at maturity extending to 24 inches tall with the flowers, with a spread of 18 inches. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 10 years. As an evegreen perennial, this plant will typically keep its form and foliage year-round.
This plant does best in full sun to partial shade. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This particular variety is an interspecific hybrid. It can be propagated by division; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.
Northern Star Agapanthus is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. With its upright habit of growth, it is best suited for use as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the center of the pot, surrounded by smaller plants and those that spill over the edges. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.
