Q: I'm looking for a plant a friend has. The leaves are long and look like a lily, but my friend says it gets a round, large purple flower on a spike. Do you know what this could be?
A: It sounds like Agapanthus orientalis, African lily, Lily of the Nile. This is a pretty perennial that does well in zones 9 through 11. It reaches a height of 2 to 4 feet and a spread of 1 to 2 feet. It is very attractive in containers, mass plantings and as an edging in a landscape bed.
African lily produces large clusters of blue/purple flowers during the summer and early fall. The flowers are funnel-shaped and attract hummingbirds. The plant prefers part shade to sun, moist soil and can be propagated by seeds or dividing the clumps. Maybe your friend will share some with you!
This information was adapted from a University of Florida publication, "Agapanthus orientalis, Agapanthus, African Lily, Lily of the Nile" by Edward F. Gilman. For information on this beauty, go to_ http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fp018.
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