Agapanthus.

I just love them! They seem to be priced up from about ten pounds a pot but I wonder if they are worth trying to grow from bulbs? There were some beauties at Kew.
The only place I have seen the bulbs for sale is in a garden catalogue. Are they difficult to grow?
Someone gave me some bulbs which were supposed to be Agapanthus but they turned out to be Nerine....

 

I planted some a few years ago but just the leaves have appeared
same with the Nerine bowdenii

 

i did place lots of leaves and and twigs for winter protection and they start off fairly well with plenty of leaves but thats been all
the agapanthus has flowered once in about 5 years and in that same period the nerine has not flowered at all -just all leaves
similairly i have a white yucca which has flowered once and this year just masses of leaves
i dont think its been warm enough this year

 

I'm growing some from seed they will be kept inside for a couple of winters it will be 3-4 years before they flower.

 

I bought one bulb about 3 years ago and planted it in a pot, each year has given me another flower.

I believe they like to be pot bound and do well under such conditions..........

Having said that I know people who grow them in their garden with great results.

I fell in love with agapanthus about 6 years ago when I went to Madeira for the first time

and saw them growing for fun all over the place.:thmb:

 

Thanks everyone for the helpful replies here

O2 that must have been a magnificent sight!
Walnut you are good growing from seed! Even bulbs will be a challenge for me.
Cornflower, I have nerine that was given to me years ago also - I notice there are far fewer flowers on them than before.
Marley - I do protect the delicate plants during winter, usually they survive. :thmb:

I think I will order some bulbs from this catalogue and see how I get on. I am keen now!

 

Agapanthus can flower in two years from seed, I have twenty at work, some this year have had three flower stems in their third year.
I also have three Agapanthus Purple cloud bought as small plants which after three years and three times the size of my own from seed haven't flowered at all.:(
They can be erratic so persevere.

 

I bought some Agapanthus from tescos as bulbs, and I've put them in pots. I'm trying to be patient, but they have only grown a couple of inches :(

I am just praying and hoping that I can keep them alive over winter, and give them a good start to next season. I've put them in the smallest pot they could fit into too, just to speed up that root compaction thing too!

Fingers Crossed they will flower one day, it is my favorite flower. :gnthb:

 

Strongy have you tried Eucomis from seed I am trying some at present there are some great varieties out there.

 

I haven't Walnut, I have only grown them from a bulb/corm. I saw an article in an old garden mag (while in the Dentists:D) showing some of the different varieties now available and they look tempting but I don't know how long they take to flower from seed.

 

I am building up a collection at the moment there are some great varieties I should imagine they take about the same time as agapanthus I will let you know in a few years time.:thumb:

 

Marley, thanks for the help, yes I will keep them in pots then I can move them around [or OH will!]

Well they are on order and I am getting some free daffs coming too so I will be busy :hehe:

When I told FIL he said "Oh, they are treated almost as weeds in New Zealand" :skp:

I just think they are an amazing sight to see.