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