Common Name: Lily of the Nile, Blue African Lily, African Lily
Family: Lily (Liliaceae, Alliaceae)
Height x Width: 1-3 feet x 1-2 feet
Growth habit: low vase-shaped
Growth rate: moderate to fast in warm climate
Foliage: basal, linear to lanceolate to 12 inches long, and from 1/2 to 2 inches wide, evergreen in warm climates
Flowers: main feature of this plant, a terminal umbel of many (30 to 100, depending on cultivar) tubular flowers, generally a version of blue but occasionally white; to 4 inches wide; held a foot or more above foliage on thick stalk which may become top-heavy at bloom and need staking to remain upright
Hardiness: USDA zone 8, some hybrids slightly hardier
Soil: average well-drained to sandy
Light: sun
Pests and Problems: fails to bloom and straggly in shade, root and basal rot if too wet; slugs and snails in damp climates as in the Pacific Northwest
Landscape habit, uses: containers, massed in beds in warm climates as California and Florida, cut flowers; in Australia, New Zealand, southern Britain and southern Europe used along roadways and as hedges or foundation plants
Other interest: native to South Africa, from the Greek for love (agape) and flower (anthos). Interbreeds readily, so much variability may exists in cultivars especially if seed propagated.
Other culture: grows from corms which should be planted 2 inches below the surface; don't allow to dry out during the growing season, but allow to dry between waterings during dormant season; fertilize heavily during growth, prior to bloom
Propagation: offsets, division of crowded clumps, seed
Species: although mainly found as cultivars, the following species may also be found
(africanus photo courtesy Missouri botanical gardens plantfinder)
Cultivars: generally hybrids unless noted; height is with flower scape; only the most currently available are noted, with the most available marked *| Cultivar | flowers | height | other |
| 'Albus' | white | 2' | africanus |
| var. albidus | white | 3' | campanulatus, late |
| 'Ardernei Hybrids' | white | 3' | purplish buds |
| 'Blue Giant' | rich blue | 42" | |
| 'Blue Triumphator' | blue | 2-3' | |
| 'Bressingham Blue' | deep blue | 3' | from Blooms, UK |
| 'Bressingham White' | white | 3' | from Blooms, UK |
| 'Cobalt Blue' | cobalt blue | 2' | from Beth Chatto, UK |
| 'Elaine' | dark violet | 4' | large flowers, Los Angeles |
| 'Ellamae' | violet | 4' | large flowers, Los Angeles |
| 'Getty White' | creamy white | 3' | vigorous |
| *'Headbourne Hybrids' | various blues | 3' | 50s& 60s, Headbourne, UK |
| 'Heronswood Hybrids' | deep blues | 18" | seedlings from WA |
| 'Isis' | deep blue | 2' | campanulatus |
| 'Lilliput' | dark blue | 18" | slow, zone 6 hardy |
| 'Loch Hope' | blue, late | 4-5' | maintains blue color |
| 'Midnight Blue' | dark blue | 15" | |
| 'Mosswood Hybrids' | various blues | 3' | from B.C. Canada |
| *'Peter Pan' | blue | 12" | narrow foliage |
| 'Profusion' | blue, striped | 3' | campanulatus |
| 'Sapphire' | dark blue | 2' | africanus |
| 'Storm Cloud' | dark blue | 3' | broad foliage |
| 'Streamline' | blue | 18" | from Auckland, NZ |
| 'Tinkerbell' | seldom | 12" | white margined leaves |
| 'Verwood Dorset' | various blues | 3' | selections of Headbornes |
| 'White Christmas' | white | 5' | 2' not in flower |
Return to Perry's
Perennial Pages | HGPO
course | PSS123 course
