1) Lily of the nile in English is the name of a plant defined with Agapanthus africanus in various botanical sources. from Northwestern University and has done advanced study in horticulture at the New York Botanical Garden. Lily of the Nile (Agapanthus). Read our Commitment to Diversity | Read our Privacy Statement. Expectant mothers sometimes wear charms made from the dried roots to ensure healthy babies. An ornamental Eurasian plant known as winter daffodil (Sternbergia lutea) is often cultivated in borders or rock gardens. The parent plant, Agapanthus africanus, has produced cultivars with blooms of violet, white, or blue. [34] In Lake Naivasha, N. caerulea was extremely common until the 1970s,[32] and there is still a seedbank around the shores of the lake. Don't pile dirt on top of the root ball. The edible American crayfish Procambarus clarkii eliminates the mollusc, as well as feeding on the water-lily. petersiana, was found to be quite divergent in the 2012 study. [4] It is native to the Kwa-Zulu Natal and Western Cape provinces of South Africa. They take the summer heat more easily if they get some shade in summer. Gently tamp down the loose soil with your hands. They are not as toxic as a lily plant, but the leaves' sap can irritate the skin. If you do not bring them indoors they can be consideredan annual in the landscape. Lily of the Nile is a common name for several plants and may refer to: common name ( vernacular name). 'Green Goddess' also has a more opened and wider spathe and has the tendency to develop curvy fringes at the edge of the spathe than the original white form. Marketing cookies are used by advertising companies to serve ads that are relevant to your interests. While the agapanthus root in any form may mean "healthy baby," the sap contains substances that can irritate skin or mucous membranes. In South Africa and elsewhere, its roots are boiled in water to produce a tonic for pregnant women. No matter where it fits in the botanical scheme, agapanthus is an ornamental plant best known for its rounded umbels of blue, blue-purple or white tubular flowers. 'Pink Mist' has a pinkish base to the spathe and pink spadix. They are often coming at a time where there are not too many other flowers, and are an excellent resource. It was the symbol of the Egyptian deity Nefertem. Lily of the Nile [Agapanthus praecox orientalis] - PICRYL Public Domain In addition to managing cookies through your browser or device, you can change your cookie settings below. Plant in the full sun to partial shade inmoist, organically rich soil with plenty of leaf mold, rotted manure, and humus. [18] There are also carpellary appendages; these are what is known as 'osmophores', structures which serve to attract pollinators without actually rewarding them, thus by deceit. [3] The family is in the monocot order Asparagales. It prefers a minimum of 6 hours of direct sunlight each day and should be planted in an area that receives plenty of sunshine throughout the day. Special Features or Benefits . Origin: These flowers were originally founded in South Africa. Calla Lily Flower Information | Calla Lily Cut Flower | Flower Shop Network Lily of the Nile or agapanthus (Agapanthus africanus and hybrids with this species) is a blue-flowered perennial that grows from a rhizome (fleshy root).Each rhizome sends up several shoots. [1][2][3] It is common in this range. Flowers bloom in summer and can be blue or white. The two lobes can overlap somewhat or be slightly apart from each other. The summer flowers don't last very long but their thick strap shaped leaves are decorative the year around. Common name: Lily of the Nile Scientific name: Agapanthus praecox orientalis Origin: South Africa Uses: Evergreen perennial that forms clumps of strap like leaves. Lily of the nile 'Golden Drop' is an evergreen variety ofl lily. With unmistakable, velvety purple blooms, this plant stands out from the crowd. The dense monospecific stands are associated with an Utricularia sp. It performs well in partial shade or full sun, drought, and even our sandy loam soil. Height - 24 to 40 inches (0.6 to 1 m) Exposure - full sun Soil - ordinary, well drained. Agapanthus africanus, or the African lily, is a flowering plant from the genus Agapanthus found only on rocky sandstone slopes of the winter rainfall fynbos from the Cape Peninsula to Swellendam. 'White Sail', growing to 90cm tall, has a very broad spathe. The plants are dense and upright, making them an excellent choice for border gardens. A conversion pixel tracking that we use for retargeting campaigns. Amaryllidaceae | Definition, Examples, Foods, & Facts | Britannica This plant is known for its very large showy white flowers that are popular as cut flower in the floral industry. [31], The rootstock of the blue water lily was collected and eaten in western South Africa around 1800, either raw or in curries, in particular by the Cape Malays and farming communities in the Cape, although this practice has now died out. 1998-2020 Philippe Faucon, All Rights Reserved. Agapanthus 'Back in Black' | Back in Black African Lily - plant lust We use necessary cookies to make the website work. [4][17], The fruit are berries,[6][inconsistent] 2.2 by 3.2cm and flattened-round in shape. It's likely that lily of the nile 'Northern Star' was given its cultivar name because its appearance is similar to that of the actual North Star. They are used to collect information about your use of our application/website. Tell your friends about this page. Parts of the agapanthus plant are sometimes used for medicinal purposes. [17] In India plants bloom and fruit from May to October. Your email address will not be published. Agapanthus praecox ( common agapanthus, [1] blue lily, [1] African lily, [2] or lily of the Nile [3]) is a popular garden plant around the world, especially in Mediterranean climates. Since ancient times flowers been assigned "secret" meanings and used to convey feelings that could not be expressed more directly. [4], The peltate leaves have long petioles and have leaf blades (lamina) which are 835cm (314in) by 7.542cm (317in)cm in size. Agapanthus, also called Lily of the Nile or African Lily, are tough, heat and drought tolerant perennials that are perfect for our Southern climate. caerulea. For the locals, it is a miraculous and healing plant. [18] They are smooth, and have a fleshy, bell-shaped aril. According to this study, N. caerulea should not be considered as a variety of N. Nonetheless the 1997 addition to the Flora of North America series decided to retain recognition of the local population under the name N. capensis, and this population continues to be recognised under that name in the US. Blue Lily of the Nile, Agapanthus - Garden DIY Agapanthus praecox - Wikipedia Lily of the nile 'Castle of Mey' is an African lily with distinctive and attractive violet flowers. , Frost Tolerance: Frost hardy in Phoenix to 18 F (-8C), Growth Habits: Evergreen perennials, height varies from 1.5 to 4 feet (45 cm to 1.5 m), Watering Needs: Flourishes with regular watering in summer. Genus: Agapanthus. [37], Nymphaea caerulea is illegal in Latvia since November 2009. Lightly fragrant blooms appear from June-July. Parts of the agapanthus plant are sometimes used for medicinal purposes. Description Calla lilies are a rhizomatous herbaceous perennial plant in the Araceae (Jack-in-the-pulpit) family native to Africa. This hybrid is named after a picturesque castle in Caithness, on Scotland's North Coast. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. It was grown by the Ancient Egyptian civilization, and had significance in their religion. 'Pink Mist' is quite delicate and weak compared to the original white form and 'Green Goddess'. Your email address will not be published. names in breadcrumbs. [4] It has many colour forms (with red-coloured forms generally called N. stellata) and has a long history of cultivation. Flower and Leaves Close-up (Cleveland County,NC)-Summer. [18] That is to say, it has small tubers that may develop into short vertical rhizomes. There are 1420 petals, of which the outermost are as long as the sepals. In this case they are visually attractive for bees and exude an odour mimicking food. [4][31] In cultivation, the plants take three to four years to flower from seed. [18] It is native to Yemen[1][2] and Oman (in Dhofar) in the southern Arabian Peninsula[1] but, according to Moshe Agami in a 1980 paper, is thought to have become extinct in the wild in Israel.