African Lily Agapanthus 'White Heaven' (PBR)

☠ Toxic to humans

🐾 Toxic to pets

🌸 Blooming

🍪 Not edible

‍🌱 Easy-care

ABOUT

The Agapanthus 'White Heaven', commonly known as the African Lily, is a striking perennial that adds a touch of elegance to any garden with its beautiful floral display. This particular variety is characterized by its large, spherical clusters of pure white flowers. Each flower head comprises numerous trumpet-shaped individual blossoms that emerge from green, strap-like foliage. The leaves are lush and arching, forming a dense clump that provides a rich, green backdrop to the impressive white blooms. Typically blossoming in the summer, these umbels of flowers are held high above the foliage on strong, upright stems, creating a contrast between the green leaves and the delicate white petals. The African Lily's white flowers are not only visually appealing but also attract various pollinators, adding a buzz of activity to its surroundings. Overall, the Agapanthus 'White Heaven' presents a pristine and refreshing look, with its clean white coloration providing a sense of serenity and making it an ideal choice for gardeners looking to create a cool color palette in their landscape.

Plant Info

Care

Common Problems

About this plant

Names
- Synonyms
  African Lily, Lily of the Nile, White Heaven Agapanthus.
- Common names
  Agapanthus 'White Heaven' (PBR)
Characteristics
- Life cycle
  Perennials
- Foliage type
  Evergreen
- Color of leaves
  Green
- Flower color
  White
- Height
  3 feet (0.91 meters)
- Spread
  2 feet (0.61 meters)
- Plant type
  Bulb
- Hardiness zones
  8
- Native area
  South Africa

Benefits

General Benefits
- Ornamental Value: The Agapanthus 'White Heaven' adds aesthetic appeal to gardens and landscapes with its large, white flower clusters on tall stems.
- Low Maintenance: This plant requires minimal care once established, making it a convenient choice for gardeners of all levels.
- Drought Tolerance: It is fairly drought-tolerant, reducing the need for frequent watering during dry periods.
- Long Blooming Period: The plant has a long flowering season, often from early summer to fall, providing extended visual interest.
- Attracts Pollinators: Its flowers attract bees and butterflies, which are beneficial for the pollination of other plants in the garden.
- Resistant to Deer and Rabbits: Generally resistant to browsing by deer and rabbits, which can help to preserve a garden's appearance and health.
- Coastal Conditions Suitability: Agapanthus is well-suited to coastal gardens due to its tolerance to salt and wind.
- Container Gardening: Can be grown in containers, allowing for garden versatility and the option to move plants as needed.
- Border Planting: Works well as a border plant, adding structure and height to garden beds.
- Cut Flowers: The blooms of Agapanthus 'White Heaven' make excellent cut flowers for arrangements due to their longevity and beauty.
Medical Properties
This plant is not used for medical purposes.
Air-purifying Qualities
This plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses
- Floral crafts: The sturdy stems and long-lasting blooms of Agapanthus make them ideal for creating dried flower arrangements.
- Photography subject: The striking appearance of 'White Heaven' lends itself to being a beautiful subject for garden photographers.
- Garden design teaching tool: Its clumping habit and distinct flowering season make it useful for teaching principles of garden design and flower bed timing.
- Eco-friendly pest control: The nectar-rich blooms can attract beneficial insects that help control garden pests.
- Theme gardening: 'White Heaven' is perfect for a white-themed garden, often used in moon gardens designed to be enjoyed in the evening.
- Edging plants: A row of these plants can provide a neat border along garden pathways or driveways.
- Wedding decorations: Fresh or dried, the blooms can be incorporated into wedding bouquets or venue decorations for a natural touch.
- Culinary garnish: Although not widely known for culinary use, the flowers can occasionally be used as a decorative, non-toxic garnish for food presentation.
- Botanical studies: Botany students and horticulturists can study the unique flowering patterns and growth habits of 'White Heaven' for educational purposes.
- Artistic inspiration: The elegance of Agapanthus 'White Heaven' often inspires artists in various mediums, including painting and sculpture.

Interesting Facts

Feng Shui
The African Lily is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign Compitability
The African Lily is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism
- Love Letters: The name "Agapanthus" is derived from the Greek words 'agape' meaning love, and 'anthos' meaning flower. As such, the plant can symbolize a message or letter of love.
- Beauty: The stunning appearance of the lush white flowers in the 'White Heaven' cultivar symbolizes beauty and elegance.
- Endurance: Agapanthus plants are known for being tough and able to withstand challenging conditions, making them a symbol of endurance and resilience.
- Prosperity and Good Fortune: With its lush and bountiful blooms, Agapanthus can be seen as a symbol of prosperity and good luck.
- Purity and Innocence: The pristine white blooms of the 'White Heaven' PBR specifically connote purity and innocence, often making them a popular choice for weddings and christenings.

💧

Every 1-2 weeks

Water

☀️

2500 - 10000 Lux

Light

💦️

Humidity

🪴

Every 3-4 years

Repotting

🌱️

Spring-Early Summer

Propogation

✂️️

As needed

Pruning

Water
The Lily of the Nile should be watered deeply until the water begins to run through the drainage hole, as this ensures that the moisture reaches the roots. In the growing season, watering should occur once a week, though this frequency should be adjusted based on weather conditions—extra watering in periods of drought and reduced watering when it's cooler or rainy. On average, one to two gallons per week per plant is a good starting point; however, always check the soil moisture before watering to avoid over-watering.
Light
Lily of the Nile thrives in full sun conditions, where it can receive at least six hours of direct sunlight daily. The best spot for this plant would be an area that gets morning sun and some partial shade during the hottest part of the afternoon, although it is quite tolerant to a full day of sun.
Temperature
Lily of the Nile prefers moderate temperatures and will do well in environments where temperatures range between 60°F and 80°F. It can survive dips down to about 50°F, but frost should be avoided. The ideal temperature conditions are a middle ground, avoiding extremes of heat or cold.
Pruning
Lily of the Nile benefits from pruning to remove spent flower stalks and to tidy up any dead or damaged foliage, promoting healthier growth and a neater appearance. The best time for pruning is late winter or early spring, before new growth begins. Pruning can be done annually, after the plant has finished flowering.
Cleaning
As needed
Soil
African Lily 'White Heaven' prefers a soil mix that offers good drainage with a loose structure, such as a blend of loamy soil, peat, and perlite or sand. The ideal pH range for this plant is between 6.0 and 7.0.
Repotting
African Lily 'White Heaven' does not require frequent repotting and can be done every 2 to 3 years or when the plant has outgrown its container and the roots are crowding.
Humidity & Misting
African Lily 'White Heaven' is tolerant of most humidity levels but thrives best in environments where the humidity is moderate to high.
Suitable locations
- Indoor
  Place African Lily in bright, indirect light indoors.
- Outdoor
  Plant African Lily in partial sun and shelter it from strong winds.
- Hardiness zone
  8-11 USDA
Life cycle
Agapanthus 'White Heaven' begins its life cycle as a seed which germinates in spring, developing into a seedling with characteristic narrow, strap-shaped leaves. As it matures, the perennial root system expands, allowing the plant to store nutrients and survive through varying conditions each year. Over time, the plant forms clumps with its foliage becoming denser. In mid to late summer, it enters the flowering stage, where tall stems rise above the foliage, capped with large globes of trumpet-shaped, pure white flowers. After flowering, if pollination has occurred, seed pods may form, which upon ripening, release seeds to start a new generation. In colder climates, the plant becomes dormant during the winter, with the foliage dying back, and then regrows from its rhizome with the return of warmer spring temperatures.
Propogation
- Propogation time
  Spring-Early Summer
- Propogation: The most popular way to propagate Agapanthus 'White Heaven', commonly known as the Lily of the Nile, is by division. The best time to divide and propagate these plants is in the spring or early summer after they have finished flowering. To propagate by division, carefully dig up the clump of agapanthus and gently separate the root ball into smaller sections, each with a portion of the root system and several shoots. Replant these divisions immediately into well-draining soil, ensuring that the crowns are just at or slightly above soil level. They should be spaced about 18 inches (approximately 45 centimeters) apart to allow room for growth. Water the new divisions thoroughly to help them establish. This method allows gardeners to quickly increase their stock of Lily of the Nile while maintaining the health and vigor of their existing plants.