Scientific name: Agapanthus praecox
Other names: Common agamanthus, Blue lilly, Africa lily, Lily of the Nile
Vine or creeper
What does Agapanthus look like?
Agapanthus is a fleshy evergreen plant has strap like leaves that form dense clumps up to 60cm. It has a very distinct erect flowerhead that extends and carries many little flowers. These flowers could be bluish purple or white.
How does it spread?
The flowers produce a great number of seeds that are spread in wind. Due to its beauty, it is a favoured garden plant. It has the ability to disperse and establish itself in new areas such as coastal communities, scrubland and bush margins.
How do I get rid of it?
This is a very hardy plant and is able to survive the toughest of control methods. Thus various methods should be used, some in combination.
- Cut the plant to the base of the stem and apply herbicide to large established plants.
- With younger plants, the entire plant (inculding the roots) can be removed.
- With garden plants, remove seed heads once the flowering season has passed and dispose of the seeds at your local landfill site.
Dispose of this plant or any part of it (seed heads) at the green section at your local landfill site. You can compost the areal pars of the plant or with younger plants, you can bury the entire plant. Ensure that you remove all seeds from the plant before you bury it.
What should I plant instead?
We recommend planting Coastal flax or Harakeke (Phormium Tenax) instead.