Agapanthus are both enchanting and in vogue – their elegant stems and globe-headed flowers have made them one of the darlings of contemporary garden design. Originally from South Africa, this delicate flower is now increasingly popular among British gardeners, adding an intriguing touch to traditional borders

TYPES OF AGAPANTHUS
The head of each agapanthus is made up of a multitude of trumpet-like flowers, which open to create the distinctive, globe-shaped blooms. Colours range from shades of deepest indigo, such as 'Midnight Star' and 'Bressingham Blue', to the pale blue of 'Storm Cloud' and the dazzling whites of 'Headbourne White' and 'Snowcloud'. The biggest heads have up to 100 individual flowers, and their vibrancy can transform even the tamest of flower beds. Agapanthus aim to please, and the fully grown plants come in a wide variety of sizes as well as the wonderful range of colours. There are diminutive dwarf plants that grow only 30 to 40 cm high, such as the charming 'White Dwarf' and 'Lilliput' – perfect in rock gardens or at the front of borders in a sunny spot. At the other end of the scale, statuesque and dramatic agapanthus such as 'Buckingham Palace' and 'Blue Giant' soar to over a metre high and dominate the most abundant borders. While it's the flowers that turn heads, don't overlook the foliage, which comes in tidy clusters of sword or strap-like leaves in shades of green, occasionally with some variegation.

HOW TO GROW AGAPANTHUS
Agapanthus obligingly span our summer months, with the earliest, such as 'Ice Blue Star', bursting into flower during a warm July. Larger, more patient cultivars such as 'Loch Hope' will bloom in mid-September, and so, with clever planning, it is possible to have agapanthus flowering in your garden for a good three months. They enjoy full sun and fertile soil with plenty of water to keep them blooming. Just like other members of the lily family, agapanthus are happy in pots and tubs, and will flower best in containers if their roots are slightly restricted. The more delicate cultivars can be brought indoors to protect them throughout the winter, though many are hardy and require only a mulch blanket during the colder months. They can be reproduced through root division in spring, producing flowers in year two or three. It is this type of breeding that has led to the extraordinary variety of agapanthus, offering a superior selection of colours and sizes to steal the spotlight in summer gardens.

WHERE TO BUY AGAPANTHUS
• Broadleigh Bulbs, Broadleigh Gardens, Bishops Hull, Taunton, Somerset TA4 1AE, (01823) 286231. Mail-order plants and wonderful gardens to visit, where these photographs were taken.
• Avon Bulbs, Burnt House Farm, Mid Lambrook, South Petherton, Somerset TA13 5HE, (01460) 242177.
• The RHS also offers a selection of agapanthus cultivars at its plant centres at Wisley, Rosemoor, Harlow Carr and Hyde Hall. Call (020) 7834 4333 for more information.

WORDS AND STYLING JACKY HOBBS
PHOTOGRAPHS MICHELLE GARRETT
JULY 2004