Fact Sheet

BlueStorm™ agapanthus blooming prolifically. Compact and easy care

Introduction

Lily of the Nile BlueStorm™, a patented Agapanthus from Anthony Tesselaar International, gives people more, lots more, of what they love Agapanthus for - color!

A sport of abundant-flowering Lily of the Nile ‘Snowstorm’, it consistently blooms up to three weeks earlier and longer than most Agapanthus, flowering on average 70 days per season (up to two to three weeks longer than other varieties). It is extremely floriferous, producing an abundance of scapes or stems topped with light violet-blue flowers. When mature, this vigorous plant blooms in flushes, bearing up to 100 stems on a mature plant per season – all bursting forth together in a mass of long-lasting thick blue flower umbels or clusters.

BlueStorm agapanthus grows to a compact 30 inches (2½ feet), a preferred height for landscapes and container plantings. Most other Agapanthus are either much taller or shorter.

Lily of the Nile, also known by the botanical name Agapanthus, is increasingly popular with American gardeners and landscapers for its easy-care nature, crisp exotic look, and long-lasting flowers. With its lush tufts of dense strappy leaves, the plant adds flair even when not in bloom.

Key Features

Quick to bloom
Compact in size and uniform in height
Great as a cut flower plant
Drought resistant
Mass of color (25 or more blooms on a 3 year old plant)
Blooms up to 60% longer than most other varieties
Low maintenance
Great for gardens and landscapes

Suggested Uses

Commercial landscapes, perennial beds and borders, container plantings, fire-retardant borders.

Growth Habit

Free-standing basal cluster with strap-like leaves. Large, thick, fleshy roots approximately ¼ inch in diameter. Upright, medium size with normal to slow growth rate for genus. Full height is achieved in 18 months.

Growth Pattern

Cluster diameter to 20 inches.

Plant Size

Grows to 30 inches high (includes flower).

Flower Size

Flower umbel is approximately 4 inches in diameter, 30 florets per umbel. The green bud is lance-shaped up to 2 inches in length by ½ inch wide. There are six petals per floret, 1 ½ x 3/8 inch.

Mature Height

30 inches tall.

Mature Width

20 inches wide.

Spacing

Space 2 feet apart for garden border.

Hardiness

USDA zones 8 to 11. For winter protection tips, please go to the FAQs for the Storm series agapanthus.

Flowering Period

Flowers abundantly in late Spring to mid Summer with spot flowering through late Summer and Fall – approximately 70 days in all.

Number Of Flowers

Approximately 25 stems, each with a flower umbel of up to 30 florets each on a 2 to 3 year old plant, 50 stems and umbels on a 4 year old plant and up to 100 on a 5 year old plant.

Flower Color

Umbellate of blue flowers.

Fragrance

No fragrance.

Foliage

Dense leaves are arranged in a tuft or cluster. Each leaf is narrow and strap-like, measuring on average 14 inches long by ¾ inches wide.

Pruning/Pinching

Remove dead flower stems after flowering in late fall.

Light Needs

Grows in most light conditions. Flowers best in full sun but will flower in reduced numbers in partial shade.

Soil Needs

BlueStorm™ will tolerate a range of soils from sand to clay.

Water Needs

Water well to establish. But once established in the landscape, agapanthuses are tolerant of both wet and dry conditions and have proved to be an ideal landscape plant for drier warm or tropical areas.

Fertilizer

Promote initial growth by providing high nitrogen fertilizer for initial growth, but once established use a flowering plant formula high in potassium to encourage flowering.

Disease Tolerance

Agapanthus are not prone to disease in the landscape.

Pest Issues

No major pests. Snails and slugs may cause slight damage.

Special Care

Easy-care plant. Initially, better performance will be attained if plants are watered and fed regularly, but once established BlueStorm will flower readily with minimal care. In colder zones, either winter protect, dig and store, or store potted plants “as is” in a frost-free location.

Special Notes

Good plant for dry, sub-tropical areas. Thick, moisture-retentive foliage makes agapanthus effective in fire-retardant borders.

Parentage

Sport of Agapanthus praecox orientalis nana alba var. ‘Snowstorm’