About
Agapanthus 'Black Beauty' is a perennial plant that retains its foliage year-round. It features narrow, strap-like leaves of a mid-green hue and robust stems that support clusters of trumpet-shaped blooms during the summer months. The buds present a deep blue, nearing black, which unfurl into dark blue-purple flowers.
About the genus
Agapanthus consists of perennial plants that grow in clusters, featuring long, narrow leaves. Some species maintain their foliage year-round, while others do not. These plants produce upright stems topped with rounded clusters of bell-shaped flowers, which can be blue or white.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Full sun
- Soil type
- Chalk, Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
- Aspect
- South-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H4
Plant details
- Plant type
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Habit
- Clump forming
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Height
- 0.5-1 metres
- Spread
- 0.5-1 metres
- Time to full height
- 2-5 years
- Suggested uses
- City and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden, Patio and container plants
- Toxicity
- Humans/Pets (dogs, cats): harmful if eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. For further information and contact numbers regarding pets, see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Grow in fertile, moist but well-drained soil in full sun. In cold areas mulch hardy hybrids in winter. In containers, grow in peat-free, loam-based compost. Apply a balanced liquid feed monthly from spring until flowering. For more information see agapanthus cultivation. May need winter protection
- Pruning
- Remove leaves as they naturally die back, deadhead complete flower stems as flowers go over
- Propagation
- Propagate by seed when ripe in autumn or spring and keep seedlings in cold frame overwinter - they will flower in 2-3years or propagate by division every three to four years in spring
- Pest resistance
- May be susceptible to slugs and snails and agapanthus gall midge
- Disease resistance
- May be susceptible to a virus