Common Name:

General Information

Agapanthus campanulatus is a herbaceous perennial plant forming a clump of rosettes of 6 - 12 sword-shaped leaves. The plant can grow 40 - 100cm tall[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local medicinal use. It is often grown as an ornamental, where it can be used as a ground cover.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Southern Africa - eastern S. Africa, Lesotho

Habitat

Grassy and rocky places, often amongst bracken, and in moist peaty soil at low elevations[]. Growing in colonies in moist grassland, moist slopes, valley bottoms, drainage lines, damp cliffs and on rocky slopes; at elevations up to 2,400 metres[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Bulb
Height	0.60 m
Pollinators	Bees
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Agapanthus campanulatus is found in the summer-rainfall areas of southern Africa. It grows where the mean annual rainfall is in excess of 500mm, its season starting with the onset of the rains, the plant then going dormant as the dry season progresses[]. Plants are probably hardy to about -15°c[], but are best if given a good mulch should temperatures lower than -5°c occur[].
Succeeds in most soils[] but it prefers a light very well-drained porous soil with plenty of leaf-mould[]. Requires plenty of moisture during the growing season but it needs to be kept dry in the winter[, ]. It only flowers freely when growing in a very sunny position[]. Plants succeed in maritime gardens[].
The rhizomes are best planted only just below soil level - a mulch of gravel or stone chips will help to keep the crown of the plant free from excess moisture[].
This species is a bit slow to settle down after being divided and so it is best to restrict division to once every 6 years or longer[].
Hybridizes very freely with other members of this genus - some botanists say there is only one very variable species of Agapanthus[].
A number of named varieties have been selected for their ornamental value[].
Plants seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[].
Plants are usually pest and disease-free, although Agapanthus species in general are famous for harbouring snails amongst their foliage. These snails do not usually cause any damage to the plants themselves but go to neighbouring plants for food[].
The flowering stems lean towards the sun[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

Cardiac, stomachic[].
The roots are crushed and made into a lotion that is used to bathe newborn babies to make them strong, and the leaves are used to wash young babies[]. It is also used to treat ‘cradle cap'[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant is ideal for mass displays and makes a good groundcover in light shade under trees or planted in clumps in the herbaceous border[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - best sown in a greenhouse as soon as it is ripe[], it can also be sown in a greenhouse in early to mid spring[]. The seed usually germinates in 1 - 3 months at 18°c[], do not sow it too thickly so that it is possible to grow the seedlings on in their pot without disturbing them for their first year of growth. Give occasional liquid feeds to make sure they do not become nutrient deficient. Divide the seedlings up into individual pots in the spring following germination, grow them on for a further year in the greenhouse and then plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer. Seedlings take 2 - 3 years to flower[].
Division of offsets in mid spring. Do not move plants between early autumn and early spring[]. Division is very easy in the growing season, the divisions can be planed straight out into their permanent positions if required.