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Agapanthus are good again

Hybridised Agapanthus are non invasive according to Australian Government

In recent times the plant variety Agapanthus orientalis has been given a bad wrap in the press and throughout the horticultural industry. In a recent publication this plant was labelled an invasive weed with a recommendation not to use it in garden landscapes.  Unfortunately, a general statement like this branding all Agapanthus orientalis as invasive reflects a lack of knowledge about the various cultivars within this subspecies and are untrue.  Some recent campaigning from a successful Agapanthus breeder has helped to clear up this issue.

The scientific papers covering the naturalisation of Agapanthus in some localised pockets in Victoria and NSW looked at the traditional blue or white orientalis Agapanthus from South Africa.  Like any other form of exotic or native plant they are capable of naturalising in new areas, given the right environmental conditions.  In the case of the traditional blue or white agapanthus, these plants are robust and produce massive fertile seed carrying flower heads and the plants readily clump.

One location at Echo Point at Katoomba in the Blue Mountains NSW is a high profile area where there has been a small outbreak of Agapanthus orientalis. In the late 19th century, a number of summer estates were developed in the Blue Mountains by wealthy and prominent citizens of Sydney.  These estates had extensive gardens that included many exotic plants including some with large plantings of traditional Agapanthus from South Africa.  Many of these estates overlooked Echo Point and other vantage points around the cliff faces. Over the last century or so these plants have naturalised in surrounding bushland via seeds carried by runoff, birds and animals and inappropriate disposal of garden waste. Today they can be found in pockets on the rock cliffs below Echo Point and surrounding areas

The traditional orientalis from South Africa is the Agapanthus of concern and many of the named hybridised varieties, both normal size and dwarf forms are high value lines and not considered by botanical experts to be invasive.  For example, newly developed orientalis hybrids bred here in Australia such as Queen Mum and Cloudy Days both have lower seed set and do not clump readily. Future breeding efforts would concentrate on producing Agapanthus cultivars that are sterile or have low seed set through selective breeding.

Late in 2009 an expert on Agapanthus wrote a letter to the Minister of the Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) in regards to the misrepresentation of Agapanthus orientalis varieties to the general public and horticulture industry and asked that the incorrect information be amended. In November 2009 a letter in reply was received from DAFF acknowledging that the Agapanthus species stipulated as being potentially invasive were the native South African or non hybridised form of Agapanthus orientalis. The department has asked that the text be amended to specify that hybridised varieties are not invasive.

So do not feel guilty about using Agapanthus, as they are part of our gardening history. Agapanthus are a true icon of both historic and modern gardens in Australia, they were recorded in the 1843 catalogue of plants at Camden Park House in NSW, and were likely to be brought from overseas well before that date.

Keep enjoying your Agapanthus and if you are worried about your common non hybridized forms spreading from seed near native bushland simply remove the spent flower heads once they have finished flowering each summer. Otherwise look out for the popular hybridized cultivars which have very little seed set such as the above mentioned Queen Mum and Cloudy Days and also Black Pantha and Lavender Haze.

Queen Mum - The safer & more beautiful Agapanthus

Agapanthus orientalis ‘PMN06’ PBR            

By Nathan Dutschke

Agapanthus is a true icon of both historic and modern gardens in Australia . Australian summers would not look or be the same without the tall distinctive flowering heads of this hardy plant.

Recently a new cultivar of Agapanthus has been released onto the market, being the first bi-coloured blue and white flowering Agapanthus with this pattern to become available. It is Queen Mum which has beautiful blue and white colouration on the outside of the petals and pure white colouration on the inside of the petals.

Queen Mum is a large flowering Agapanthus with multiple heads flowering at any one time . The flower heads are extra large and certainly define this plant making it a real show stopper in a garden or landscape. Queen Mum will reach up to 1.5m tall when in flower and has typical clumping, glossy green strap like foliage.

For optimum flowering and best vibrant colour plant Queen Mum in a full sun position. Queen Mum is ideal for use as cut flowers in floral arrangements.

Queen Mum is very drought, humidity and frost tolerant down to -7°c. It is also very low maintenance, it out competes weeds and requires very little pruning. This plant has the ability to survive through drought conditions and it tolerates frost and salty coastal winds. Queen Mum does well from Queensland to Tasmania to Perth.

Research shows in 2008 that this cultivar seeds significantly less than the common forms of Agapanthus and it is a low risk plant when it comes to weed potential for most areas of Australia. If you do live in one of those few zones where Agapanthus is classed as having weed potential (which is the minority of places around Australia) and you live adjacent to bushland, simply cut off the spent flower heads and discard them in the correct way. This will keep the plants looking at their best too.

Queen Mum has been bred in Australia by Pine Mountain Nursery QLD. If you would like some more information please contact Ozbreed on 02 4577 2977, or visit www.bestplants.com.au