Two Agapanthus praecox blue flowers with white centers covered in raindrops

Agapanthus praecox (Lily of the Nile)

Native to southern South Africa, this evergreen perennial herb forms expanding clumps from thick underground stems. Rounded clusters of blue, violet, or white funnel-shaped flowers rise above the leaves on stalks up to about 5 feet tall. It flowers mainly in summer, with additional flowering possible in mild climates. Division preserves selected flower colors, while seedlings may differ because plants hybridize readily. It has naturalized in New Zealand and parts of Australia and is invasive in coastal New Zealand and southern Australian bushland. The plant is poisonous if eaten, and its sap can irritate skin and damage the mouth. Photographed in Bogotá, Colombia and Quito, Ecuador.

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Agapanthus praecox has white flowers with long white stamens and brown anthers beside pale unopened buds

Agapanthus praecox has a dense rounded head of violet flowers and upright buds with curved pale stamens

Agapanthus praecox has pale violet flowers with darker central stripes among purple buds against dark foliage

Agapanthus praecox has pale blue-violet flowers and upright purple buds in a rounded head against a dark tree trunk

Agapanthus praecox has white flowers with faint purple tips and curved white stamens among cream-colored buds

Agapanthus praecox has violet flowers with dark central stripes and pale stamens radiating from green flower stalks

Agapanthus praecox has open violet flowers and elongated purple buds on a tall green stalk in front of a tree trunk

Agapanthus praecox has a rounded cluster of open violet flowers with dark anthers and upright purple buds above green leaves

Agapanthus praecox has a rounded head of white flowers and pale buds on radiating green stalks in a garden

Agapanthus praecox has violet flowers with curved pale stamens below a group of upright purple buds among long green leaves

Agapanthus praecox has a large head of blue-violet flowers with upright buds and a few fading blossoms

Agapanthus praecox has violet flowers with dark stripes and dark anthers among tall purple buds against a pale background

Agapanthus praecox has blue flowers with pale filaments and dark anthers beneath upright dark blue buds