Agapanthus Africanus Blue Thunder African Lily

Agapanthus Africanus Blue Thunder is a compact perennial plant with strappy green foliage and full-sized rich blue flowers. It’s a superb container plant and an excellent coastal choice.

Agapanthus are commonly called African Lilies, but they are actually members of the amaryllis family. They are native to South Africa’s coastline, but the name agapanthus is Greek, agape for love and anthos for flower.

They first appeared in the UK in the 1600s and since then many cultivars have been bred. Many cultivars are blue, but Agapanthus Twister is two-tone blue with white, and Agapanthus White Storm is an aptly named pure white version. This cultivar, African Lily Blue Thunder was bred for its compact clump and foliage spread whilst retaining full-sized deep blue flowers.

In late spring, rich strappy green foliage begins to emerge from the clump, followed by thick flower stems. In summer, its flowers emerge from dark blue buds. Its flowers are a very dark shade of blue, much deeper than other agapanthus and they are particularly long-lasting. This agapanthus will spend the whole summer in flower if it’s cared for.

In autumn, its foliage dies down, but it may remain evergreen in mild coastal areas of the south.

Height and Spread of Agapanthus Africanus Blue Thunder
This is a notably compact agapanthus that reaches only 50 centimetres in height and spread.

How Hardy is Agapanthus Africanus Blue Thunder
African Lily Blue Thunder is hardy in the UK if its roots are well-drained and it receives full sun in summer with shelter from harsh cold winds.

How To Use Agapanthus Africanus Blue Thunder
Agapanthus are excellent coastal plants as per their native South African roots, and they are one of the few plants that enjoy a restricted root run. This makes them an ideal candidate for containers. Because Blue Thunder agapanthus is a compact variety, it’s a good choice for small gardens or courtyards where every inch counts.

Plant them in a sunny mixed border where they will grab all the attention, brighten up a balcony garden, or dot them around a wildlife-friendly low-maintenance space. Bumblebees love agapanthus’ long nectar channels.

How To Care for Agapanthus Africanus Blue Thunder
These ornamental plants need little maintenance and they are easy to grow.
Choose a sunny spot with well-drained soil and water it well until established. Shade-grown agapanthus struggles to produce flowers. Be sure to water and fertilise container-grown agapanthus regularly.
In spring, apply a thick layer of organic mulch to the roots, then remove dead foliage and flower stalks to make room for new growth.