How to Sow Agapanthus Seeds

A tall variety of agapanthus in bloom.

Agapanthus are also known as African lily, African blue lily and lily of the Nile. They are perennial flowering plants indigenous to southern Africa. Agapanthus produce small 1- to 2-inch wide trumpet-shaped flowers that grow in 6- to 12-inch wide clusters to form a ball shape. Larger varieties can grow to 5 feet in height and dwarf varieties grow to approximately 15 inches tall. Agapanthus are easy to grow from seed, provided they are kept moist and given plenty of light during germination.

Things You'll Need

• Paper bag
• 3- or 4-inch pots
• Bleach
• Seed compost
• Pencil or chopstick
• Plastic bag or plastic wrap
• Measuring cup
• Metal tray or baking sheet
• Fertilizer

Instructions

1. Collect seed pods from an agapanthus in autumn, from August through September.

2. Place the seed pods into a paper bag. Store the bag in a dry, moderately warm environment in your home until early spring, March through April. The temperature should remain between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. The seed pods will dry and split apart during their storage, making the seeds easily obtainable.

3. Sterilize 3- or 4-inch-wide plastic pots before using. Add one gallon of tap water to a plastic bucket or basin. Measure out one cup of household bleach and mix it into the water. Set the pots in the bleach and water solution to soak for one hour. Rinse off each pot thoroughly with hot water and set aside to dry.

4. Fill up the plastic pots with a good-quality, sterilized seed compost. Pack the soil down in each of the pots until it is well compressed. See the "Tips" section for how to sterilize seed compost if the seed compost you are using has not been pre-sterilized.

5. Plant two to three agapanthus seeds per 3- or 4-inch pot. Gently press the seeds into the compost using a chopstick, or the blunt end of a pencil. This is to make sure there is good contact between the seeds and the compost.

6. Place each of the pots into a shallow tray. Cover the tray with a layer of clear plastic wrap, or put it inside a clear plastic bag and tie it closed loosely.

7. Put the tray where the temperature will stay about 65 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Provide as much indirect or filtered light as possible, as it is needed for germination. Pour one to two cups of water into the tray as needed to keep the seed compost moist. Germination can be lengthy, from one to four months.

8. Remove the plastic wrap or bag once the seeds begin sprouting. Keep the seedlings moist, but do not allow them to become dripping wet.

9. Transfer each of the agapanthus when they are about 2 to 3 inches tall to a sheltered area in your garden. Gradually begin exposing them to sunlight, beginning with one to two hours a day for the first 10 days. You can transplant them into one-gallon pots, tubs or 1/2 barrels once they are acclimated to full sunlight.

Tips & Warnings

• To sterilize seed compost, place the mixture into a metal tray. Spread it out in the tray so it's fairly evenly layered. Place the tray inside an oven that has the temperature set at 300 degrees Fahrenheit. Leave the mix in the oven for no longer than 30 minutes. Let it cool completely before using.

• Fertilize agapanthus monthly during their growing season once they are in their permanent location. Use a 12-12-12, 10-10-10 or similar granular fertilizer. You should follow the directions on the label, since spread rates can vary by manufacturer.

References

• Agapanthus: Information on Agapanthus
• Royal Horticultural Society: About Agapanthus
• Floridata: Agapanthus