Agapanthus × hybridus
African lily (Agapanthus × hybridus) is a perennial that reaches 80 cm × 60 cm after ten years. Light: full sun, part shade. Hardy down to -12 °C. Drought tolerance: medium. Mildly toxic to children. Sold in local shops from about €5. We do not recommend it for most Central European gardens.
Grow it as a container plant, because most of the forms sold here do not overwinter outdoors and have to be moved to a frost-free place in autumn. Above strap-shaped leaves it carries round heads of blue, purple or white flowers on tall stems in summer, and it flowers best in sun once its roots fill the pot. There are two types: the evergreen ones are tender and need a bright place at 5 to 10 °C with just enough water to keep the leaves alive; the deciduous (Headbourne type) hybrids are hardier, overwinter dry in a cool, dark, frost-free place, and can be tried in the ground in a sheltered, well-drained spot under a thick mulch, though a hard winter may still kill them. So check which type you are buying. Bring it in before the first frosts and put it out again in May, once frosts are over.
| Group | Perennial |
| Light | Full sun, Part shade |
| Size after 10 years | 80 cm × 60 cm |
| Ultimate size | 0.3–1.5 m × 30–75 cm |
| Hardiness | down to -12 °C (USDA 8, RHS H5) |
| Soil | Average garden soil, Sandy |
| Foliage | Evergreen |
| Flowering | June–September, blue, purple, white |
| Water need | Medium |
| Drought tolerance | Medium |
| Maintenance | Medium |
| Root aggressiveness | Low |
| Suckering | no data |
| Spreading | Low |
| Distance from buildings | no data |
| Distance from paving | no data |
| Litter | not typical |
| Planting distance | 45 cm |
| For dogs | Mildly toxic (uncertain) |
| For cats | Mildly toxic (uncertain) |
| For children | Mildly toxic |
| Typical price | from about €5 |
Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.
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The same plant is sold as a small pot and as a specimen several metres tall, and the price follows. Prices are rounded and for guidance only.
|
Size
|
Typical price
|
|---|---|
| 30-50 cm | approx. €16 |
| size not stated | approx. €5 – €40 |
Data updated: October 13, 2026 · How our data is made
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