AFRICAN LILY (Agapanthus umbellatus), a member of '
the natural order Liliaceae, a native of the Cape of Good '
Hope, whence it was introduced at the close of the 17th '
century. It is a handsome greenhouse plant, which is hardy '
in the south of
England and
Ireland if protected from severe '
frosts. It has a short stem bearing a tuft of long, narrow, '
arching leaves, 1/2 to 2 ft. long, and a central flower-stalk, 2 '
to 3 ft. high, ending in an umbel of bright blue, funnel-shaped '
flowers. The plants are easy to cultivate, and are generally '
grown in large pots or tubs which can be protected from frost in '
winter. During the summer they require plenty of water, '
and are very effective on the margins of lakes or running '
streams, where they thrive admirably. They increase by '
offsets, or may be propagated by dividing the root-stock '
in early spring or autumn. A number of forms are known in '
cultivation; such are albidus, with white flowers, aureus, '
with leaves striped with yellow, and variegatus, with leaves '
almost entirely white with a few green bands. There are '
also double-flowered and larger and smaller flowered forms. '
'
Initial text from 1911 encyclopedia -- Please update as needed
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