AGAPANTHUS PRAECOX

This member of the Alliaceae family was described by Carl Ludwig von Willdenow in 1809.

It is found in the western part of South Africa (and cultivated widely worldwide) It is growing in a well drained soil with lots of water and sun. The rhizomes will grow to eight centimetres in diameter, the leaves reach for 80 centimetres. The flowers are light blue, and the plant can be reproduced both by seeds and dividing of the rhizomes. There are only six species in this genera: The evergreen A. africanus and A. praecox and four deciduous species i.e. A. campanulatus, A. caulescens, A. coddii and A. inapertus. The species from Greek: Agapé = love and anthos = flower. The species name means 'early', as it flowers early in the spring. ') Accordantly to the latest taxonomic system; APG IV 2016, Alliaceae is now part of the Amaryllidaceae.