If you skip this step, your plant's roots won't spread out as well (or as quickly). Sounds luscious doesn't it? zanzibarensis, then in 2011 N. capensis,[19][22] but the plants in the wild are now thought to be N. caerulea. Lily of the Nile - World of Flowering Plants Lily of the Nile is a common ornamental in warm climates, grown for its large spherical flower clusters. USES: cutflower, specimen, container, freeway planting LEAVES: Basal, long and narrow-no hairs or teeth-pointed tips Dis./Pest: NO Lily of the Nile | Description, Plant, & Facts | Britannica Amaryllidaceae | Definition, Examples, Foods, & Facts | Britannica Though visually delicate, it is a deceptively tough plant. 'Pink Mist' is not a hybrid, but a colour sport. Family: Amaryllidaceae. This plant is known for its very large showy white flowers that are popular as cut flower in the floral industry. [22], It has a habitat consisting of rivers, lakes and pools. Beetles and bees pollinate the flowers. Cultural Practices:The Agapanthus needs regular watering during the hot weather period. lily of the Nile, ( Agapanthus africanus ), also called African lily, perennial herbaceous plant of the amaryllis family ( Amaryllidaceae ), native to Africa. Fruits are dispersed by birds. Copyright Leaf Group Ltd. // Leaf Group Lifestyle. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/plant/Amaryllidaceae. Lily of the Nile (Agapanthus). At night, he was believed to retreat into the flower again. on the illustrations as well as the other information from the page, but occasionally errors do occur. Natal lily, or Kaffir lily (Clivia miniata), a South African perennial, is cultivated as a houseplant for its orange flowers lined with yellow. Don't pile dirt on top of the root ball. Lily of the nile 'Flower of Love' is a new cultivar of African lily developed in 2017. Calla Lily Flower Information | Calla Lily Cut Flower | Flower Shop Network It's the pink coloration that gives the variety its name; the flowers' shade of pink is similar to that of strawberry ice cream. All the tips to grow and care for Lily of the Nile, Plant them together with other flowers that come in shades of blue like, Or go for romantic color-matching associations with. NC State University and N.C. A&T State University work in tandem, along with federal, state and local governments, to They are often coming at a time where there are not too many other flowers, and are an excellent resource. Feed 3 times a year in early spring, early summer and fall. One hundred years later, Queen Victoria became enthused about the Language of Flowers, and the practice of including specific flowers in bouquets to convey specific meanings caught on throughout the British Empire and the Western world. List of All the Plants | Required fields are marked *. This ability is controlled by the sepals; when these are cut off, the flower loses the ability to close. [14], This is an aquatic (euhydrophyte) herb with a tuberous rhizome. There are indications it was grown in special farms over 4,000 years ago to produce enough flowers for votive offerings, although it was apparently also simply grown as an ornamental in traditional Egyptian garden ponds. Agapanthoideae consists of a single genus, Agapanthus, native to South Africa. [29], Pollination is entomophilous. It will tolerate occasionally wet, slightly alkaline, acidic soil, and clay soil. Warning: the sap is poisonous, do not ingest. It's an Agapanthus cultivar whose exact parentage remains unknown, but this doesn't stop it from being used in abundance by horticulturalists. [31] These seeds only germinate when heavy rains flood the banks, and they are submerged under a layer of water. 'Green Goddess' also has a more opened and wider spathe and has the tendency to develop curvy fringes at the edge of the spathe than the original white form. The parent plant, Agapanthus africanus, has produced cultivars with blooms of violet, white, or blue. It is associated with a species of snail, which is one of the main hosts of the pathogen causing human schistosomiasis. It might cause temporary irritation of the skin. 1998-2020 Philippe Faucon, All Rights Reserved. Zantedeschia aethiopica, commonly known as calla lily and arum lily, is a species of flowering plant in the family Araceae, native to southern Africa in Lesotho, South Africa, and Eswatini. Most plants are derived from US stock, but a significant number of samples were escaped garden cultivars or hybrids, some of which may be crossed with native species. if you notice anything that needs to be changed please contact us.Thanks. Hybridized from other African lilies, this cultivar was aptly named after its "polar ice" white coloration. The leaf margin is entire towards the apex or more-or-less irregularly sinuate-lobulate throughout its entirety. nouchali. The website cannot function properly without these cookies, and can only be disabled by changing your browser preferences. The African lily, or lily of the Nile (Agapanthus africanus), is a common garden ornamental in warm climates. Schizostylis facts, a summary Name Schizostylis Family , Plant bulbs depending on when they bloom: - Spring-flowering > plant in fall - Summer bulb > plant in spring, In flower beds, pot arrangements or smack in the middle of the lawn, summer-flowering bulbs provide colors and enjoyment. Lily of the nile 'Castle of Mey' is an African lily with distinctive and attractive violet flowers. [17], The flower buds rise to the surface over a period of two to three days, and when ready, open during the mid-morning, closing near dusk. It is very popular California flower and in other places where it is fully hardy. The evolutionary tree was a consensus of ITS2 and matk. Lily of the Nile (Agapanthus 'Rancho White') - Desert-Tropicals [33] The crayfish was first introduced to Kenya in 1966 as a species with which to enhance the local fisheries. After flowering, cut the flowers at ground level, Agapanthus will bloom anew in the following spring. It prefers a minimum of 6 hours of direct sunlight each day and should be planted in an area that receives plenty of sunshine throughout the day. For more information about how Google processes your data and Googles approach to privacy as well as implemented safeguards for your data, please see here. This was first identified as N. zanzibarensis, then as N. capensis var. The family is divided into three subfamilies: Amaryllidoideae, Agapanthoideae, and Allioideae. The Lily of the Nile naturalizes easily in Phoenix. [1][2][3] It is common in this range. Agapanthus praecox - Wikipedia The Lily of the Nile naturalizes easily in Phoenix. 'White Sail', growing to 90cm tall, has a very broad spathe. [7][8][9], In 2012 there was a phylogenetic study where N. caerulea was more related to N. gracilis, an endemic of northern Mexico, than it was to N. nouchali. Local names include agapant, bloulelie, isicakathi and ubani. Easy Ways To Propagate and Grow Lily of the Nile aka Agapanthus The upper surface of the lamina is smooth, but the underside has conspicuously raised, green or rarely reddish or reddish-purple veins. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experiences on our website. [citation needed], It is grown as an ornamental plant for water gardens in tropical to subtropical regions around the world. Plant taxonomists used to consider agapanthus a member of the Alliaceae or allium family. Lily of the Nile (Agapanthus) Flower, Leaf, Care, Uses - PictureThis Lily of the Nile (Agapanthus orientalis) - Desert-Tropicals Procambarus clarkii was introduced to the lake in 1970, and now supports an annual harvest of a few thousand kilograms, but it may have been responsible for eliminating not only the water-lily in the main lake by 1983, but all native aquatic plant species in this water body. Rhizome rot is an occasional disease problem. They take the summer heat more easily if they get some shade in summer. Members of the family have bulbs or underground stems, several strap- or lance-shaped leaves grouped at the base of the stem or arranged alternately along the stem, flowers usually with three or six petals and three or six sepals, and fruits that are typically dry capsules or fleshy berries. Many varieties feature flower heads that soar high about the strap-like leaves, which are also somewhat fire-resistant. Plan the perfect garden with our interactive tool , North Carolina State University: Plant Fact Sheets: Agapanthus, Merriam Webster's Online Dictionary: Agapanthus. Agapanthus, also called Lily of the Nile or African Lily, are tough, heat and drought tolerant perennials that are perfect for our Southern climate. Fill in the hole with your soil mixture. Known occurrences, collected specimens and observations of Lily of the Nile. The profusion of blue produced by lily of the nile 'Northern Star' makes it stand out from others of its kind. The flowers last some four days before they start to wither, closing up each night. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 4.0 ; additional terms may apply. Corrections? Choose the variety best suited to your climate: Place your plant in the sun in well drained soil, not too near trees that might block the light. It is an aquatic plant of freshwater lakes, pools and rivers, naturally found throughout most of the eastern half of Africa, as well as parts of southern Arabia, but has also been spread to other regions as an ornamental plant. The primary veins form a pattern of closed, elongated areas stretching to more than two thirds of the way to the margin of the leaf. Type: The type of lily of the Nile is perennial Height: These beautiful flowers grow up to 24-40 inches. In addition to managing cookies through your browser or device, you can change your cookie settings below. No matter where it fits in the botanical scheme, agapanthus is an ornamental plant best known for its rounded umbels of blue, blue-purple or white tubular flowers. Survived over 40 years on Alcatraz with only winter . Exposure: In South Africa and elsewhere, its roots are boiled in water to produce a tonic for pregnant women. More in the Amaryllidaceae family They are hardy to zone 8 but can survive in zone 7 if protected, otherwise, theymay need to overwinter indoors. It features white flowers (unlike the parent plant that has blue), which give the cultivar its name"albus" means "white." [28] In Lake Bisina, Uganda, N. caerulea is most clearly associated with Utricularia reflexa; this may be due to similar ecological niches, it may just mean the small, rootless, free-moving Utricularia simply get snagged on the petioles, but it may indicate some sort of a commensal relationship, with U. reflexa being shaded by the leaves of N. caerulea. There are eight to eleven primary lateral veins on each side of the midrib. [23], Although in cultivation it is said to be quite demanding of nutrients,[4] in the quite nutrient-poor Lake Nabugabo in Uganda it is the dominant aquatic plant species, only being replaced by N. lotus in the eastern tip of the lake, and other aquatic genera where it is more shallow. Leighton Synonym: Agapanthus praecox Family: Alliaceae. Culture:The Agapanthus needs regular watering during the hot weather period. Origin: These flowers were originally founded in South Africa. Agapanthus, or Lily of the Nile - University of Florida, Institute of Plant in the full sun to partial shade inmoist, organically rich soil with plenty of leaf mold, rotted manure, and humus. These trumpet-shaped blooms, borne on tall stalks, make this cultivar highly popular among gardeners. To gardeners, the word "agapanthus" signifies a tall, blue-flowered plant that grows from a fleshy rhizome and can reach a height of up to 60 inches. To divide remove the entire clump from the ground and break it apart leaving some growing buds or "eyes" on each piece. [4], Some evidence indicates the effects of plants including N. caerulea that contain the psychoactive alkaloid aporphine were known to the Ancient Egyptians. Agapanthus / pns / [2] is a genus of plants, the only one in the subfamily Agapanthoideae of the family Amaryllidaceae. Agapanthus walshii are perennial plants with evergreen leaves. Sold As: NA. //-->, Frost Tolerance: Frost hardy in Phoenix to 18 F (-8C), Growth Habits: Evergreen perennials, height varies from 1.5 to 4 feet (45 cm to 1.5 m), Watering Needs: Flourishes with regular watering in summer. The scientific name of the plant means plant of love in ancient greek: Agapanthus. Lily of the Nile - Encyclopedia of Life [7][8][9], The naturalised populations in eastern Australia were also thought to be N. capensis var. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. This low-growing cultivar (1 m to the parent plant's 2 m) is an excellent size for garden borders and beds. Its deep purple color makes it one of the darkest forms of this particular flower. The first generation hybrid of 'Green Goddess' and the original white form have a light green underside on the spathe, allowing the flower to last longer than the original white form, but no green stripes on the top side. Standard and dwarf varieties make these plants versatile enough for any area of the garden. Lily of the Nile (Agapanthus 'Rancho White') The name is derived from Greek: ( agap - "love"), ( anthos - "flower"). Other compounds include nuciferine. Lily of the Nile plant care and growing guide Agapanthus, or Lily of the Nile, is a perennial flower that has gorgeous blue or white florets arranged in large globes that make this a wonderful addition to the garden. [18] It is native to Yemen[1][2] and Oman (in Dhofar) in the southern Arabian Peninsula[1] but, according to Moshe Agami in a 1980 paper, is thought to have become extinct in the wild in Israel. 1 Lily of the Nile, Agapanthus 1.1 Description / Shipment / Storage / Risk factors 1.1.1 Scientific Name and Introduction 1.1.2 Quality Characteristics and Criteria 1.1.3 Grading and Bunching 1.1.4 Ethylene Sensitivity 1.1.5 Pretreatments 1.1.6 Storage Conditions 1.1.7 Packing 1.1.8 Special Considerations The dense monospecific stands are associated with an Utricularia sp. Many tropical lilylike plants also belong to the subfamily, such as the Cape tulip, or blood lily (Haemanthus), Cornish lily (Nerine), and Hippeastrum; the hippeastrums, grown for their large, showy flowers, are commonly known as amaryllis. [4] N. caerulea was considered extremely significant in Egyptian mythology, regarded as a symbol of the sun, since the flowers are closed at night and open again in the morning. The Lily of the Nile naturalizes easily in Phoenix. Thanks to the different varieties, every region can avail of these beautiful flowers. google_ad_format = "160x600_as"; They can survive in up to 12" of water so they work well along pond margins or raingarden. Flowers bloom in summer and can be blue or white. Water regularly over the first year (wait for the soil to dry before watering again) and cover with horticultural fleece over the two first winters. Plant taxonomists used to consider agapanthus a member of the Alliaceae or allium family. Many other plants not closely related to lilies are called lilies, usually because their flowers resemble lilies. Large, showy white spathes that taper to a point appear on leafless stalks. Although this variant grows only about 50 cm tall, it has striking, dark blue flowers which form clusters of 40 or more blooms. Lily of the nile 'Strawberry Ice' is distinguished by its white flowers that fade to have a pink blush over time. Omissions? Schizostylis or kaffir lily is a superb flower with winter blooming. Gently tamp down the loose soil with your hands. The edible American crayfish Procambarus clarkii eliminates the mollusc, as well as feeding on the water-lily. The practice has a long history in China and eventually spread to the Middle East. You are at: Home Archive for "Lily of the Nile" Browsing: Lily of the Nile Plantpedia Marketing cookies are used by advertising companies to serve ads that are relevant to your interests. Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window). It is vigorous, pest- and disease-resistant, and reliable from the bulb, so it has won the RHS Award of Garden Merit. There are 1424 carpels, with a very short style. Its parents are the 'Queen Mum' and the 'Cloudy Days,' A dwarf compared to its parents, the lily of the nile 'Ambic001' can be planted in a range of places such as edges, containers, or planting in mass with a long flowering period. While the agapanthus root in any form may mean "healthy baby," the sap contains substances that can irritate skin or mucous membranes. Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day), Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day), Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours), Berries are clusters of round yellow-orange and 10 mm in diameter. Blooming Habits:The 'Rancho White' produces white flowers during May-June. It is best to plant Lily of the Nile in the spring or at the beginning of fall. [14][16][17] This subgenus appears to be phylogenetically sound. They are not as toxic as a lily plant, but the leaves' sap can irritate the skin. Print Plant - pnwplants.wsu.edu Like other species in the genus, the plant contains the psychoactive alkaloid aporphine[inconsistent] (not to be confused with apomorphine, a metabolic product of aporphine). Whether white or blue, directly in the ground or in pots, plant Lily of the Nile! [3] The family is in the monocot order Asparagales. We use necessary cookies to make the website work. Lily of the nile 'Headbourne Hybrids' is a lily of the Nile noted for its unusual degree of hardiness. Nymphaea nouchali var. Though African lily usually has solid blue flowers, african lily 'Twister' is a striking cultivar with two-colored flower clusters that shade from blue at the base to white at the petal tips. Frost Tolerance: Frost hardy in Phoenix to 18 F (-8C) . They arecommonly found growing alongstream banks and ponds margins, marshes, where they can be considered weedy in some habitats. 1186", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nymphaea_nouchali_var._caerulea&oldid=1161864129, This page was last edited on 25 June 2023, at 13:56. [32] In Kenya, N. caerulea is positively associated with the freshwater snail Biomphalaria pfeifferi, which is a main host of human schistosomiasis. These cookies are set because of our use of Google Analytics. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:Japanese beetles can feed on the leaves and flowers. Flower and Leaves Close-up (Cleveland County,NC)-Summer. It is a perennial. Blooms in summer. Flowers are visited by Anna's Hummingbird, Western Tiger Swallowtail, Common Eastern Bumblebee, and Leptophobia aripa. caerulea. The "Language of Flowers" was first introduced to Europe in the early 1700s by Charles II of Sweden, who had been exiled to Turkey for several years, and Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, wife of a British diplomat, who observed the use of flower symbolism while stationed with her husband in Constantinople. Plant 1 to 2 feet apart depending on the variety. Lightly fragrant blooms appear from June-July. Elisabeth Ginsburg, a writer with over 20 years' experience, earned an M.A. St Helena Tourism Official Website", Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Zantedeschia_aethiopica&oldid=1162185546, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from September 2013, Taxonbars with automatically added basionyms, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 4.0, 'Crowborough' is a more cold tolerant cultivar growing to 90cm (35in) tall, suited to cool climates, such as. Native to South Africa, it has been utilized for various medicinal uses. Sun Exposure . Tell your friends about this page. and information about flower of all kind for landscape and collections.We try to check carefully the identification of the plants The cookies collect specific information, such as your IP address, data related to your device and other information about your use of the application/website. Possession and distribution lead to a criminal charge. [18] The leaves are polymorphic, changing in form and texture depending if they are underwater or floating. [5], On the African continent, it occurs, from north to south, westwards to at least Chad,[1][23] Congo-Brazzaville,[1] the DRC (only in Katanga? [2] Description [ edit] Inflorescence and spathe They are used to collect information about your use of our application/website. [5][4][23] It also occurs on islands off the eastern African coast: Zanzibar, Madagascar and the Comoro Islands. The pink colour is best developed in partial shade after rain. caerulea,[1][a] is a water lily in the genus Nymphaea, a botanical variety of Nymphaea nouchali. Place the plant in the center of the hole. caerulea, [1] [a] is a water lily in the genus Nymphaea, a botanical variety of Nymphaea nouchali . They typically grow 2 to 3 feet tall andmaintain their large deep green evergreen leaves in habitats with high rainfall and moderate temperatures but are deciduouswhen cold temperatures hit orthere is a prolonged dry season. They are often coming at a time where there are not too many other flowers, and are an excellent resource. The summer flowers don't last very long but their thick strap shaped . Shaded area represents potential planting range. In colder climates, the plants lose their leaves and go dormant during the winter, with the rhizomes remaining alive below the water. Name - Agapanthus Family - Liliaceae (lily family) Type - perennial. [4] It has many colour forms (with red-coloured forms generally called N. stellata) and has a long history of cultivation. Flowers bloom in summer and can be blue or white. Agapanthus africanus, or the African lily, is a flowering plant from the genus Agapanthus found only on rocky sandstone slopes of the winter rainfall fynbos from the Cape Peninsula to Swellendam. Morphology: Lily of the Nile Scientific Name: Agapanthus orientalis F.M. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Rhizomes also reproduce, so over time, a one-gallon plant of a vigorous cultivar like 'Blue Storm' will make a clump 2.5 feet wide. Lily-of-the-Nile Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com (lily of the Nile) In the traditional language of flowers, agapanthus meant "love letter.". It is a popular choice for cutting gardens or mass plant italong a border. [citation needed] A number of pharaohs' mummies were covered with the petals of the flower. Lily of the nile 'Celebration' is a hardy, perennial, clump-forming cultivar of the African lily that has lovely light blue or violet flowers in the shape of trumpets; surely their beauty is worth "celebrating." [35] The mildly sedating effects of N. caerulea makes it a candidate (among several) for the fruit of the lotus tree eaten by the mythical Lotophagi in Homer's Odyssey. The beautiful umbels of the Lily of the Nile - Nature & Garden Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). onion The subfamily Allioideae (formerly the family Alliaceae) contains a number of important food crops, including onion ( Allium cepa ), garlic ( A. sativum ), leek ( A. porrum ), and chive ( A. schoenoprasum ). Brought North from South Africa by explorers from Holland in the XVIIth century, this plant is prized in mild climate areas, like along the Mediterranean or the Atlantic, because it isnt considered very hardy. With elegant umbels perched atop tall scapes, this flower is known for indigo or deep blue colors, a great source of inspiration for the painter Monet. Try out PictureThis App on your phone and Identify more than 10,000 plant species. Mulch each winter with fallen leaves. [17] In India plants bloom and fruit from May to October. (lily of the Nile), Agapanthus caulescens Spreng. Learn more here. 1) Lily of the nile in English is the name of a plant defined with Agapanthus africanus in various botanical sources. Amaryllidaceae, amaryllis family of perennial herbs in the flowering plant order Asparagales, containing 73 genera and at least 1,600 species, distributed primarily in tropical and subtropical areas of the world. Desert Tropicals Home Page | The plants are dense and upright, making them an excellent choice for border gardens. [4], The flowers can be blue, white, mauve or pinkish in colour,[4][18] but are usually have pale bluish-white to sky-blue or mauve petals, smoothly changing to a pale yellow in the centre of the flower,[4] and are 812cm (35in) in diameter. This page contains potential references in Ayurveda, modern medicine, and other folk traditions or local practices It has the synonym Tulbaghia minor (Lodd.) Every spring, add potassium-rich fertilizer, ashes and compostfor instance. Their shape is oblong, and their apexes end in blunt or subacute tips. Lily of the Nile Scientific Name: Agapanthus 'Rancho White' Family: Amaryllidaceae. Possession of larger quantities can be punished by up to 15 years in prison. In contrast to the relatively open flower shape of the parent plant, these flowers' petals twist open in a wide six-pointed star shape, giving it the appropriate name 'Twister.'. 1998-2003 Philippe Faucon, All Rights Reserved. The flower stems are excellent for cut flowers. google_ad_width = 160; Recommended Temperature Zone: sunset: 7-9, 11-24 USDA: 9-11. . View this species on GBIF . [4], The peltate leaves have long petioles and have leaf blades (lamina) which are 835cm (314in) by 7.542cm (317in)cm in size. [22], The native distribution covers North Africa along the Nile and south throughout central, East and Southern Africa. Agapanthus 'Back in Black' is a hardy lily-of-the-Nile with rich green foliage black stems black buds and dark purple-blue flowers followed by attractive black seed pods. Free for commercial use, no attribution required. [37], Nymphaea caerulea is illegal in Latvia since November 2009. [4] The conservation status has not been evaluated by the IUCN,[6] but it is considered a species of 'least concern' by the South African National Biodiversity Institute in their Red List of South African Plants. Tolerates little water during the summer. [39] N. caerulea is illegal in Russia since April 2009 along with related products such as Salvia divinorum, Argyreia nervosa and others. Frost Tolerance: Frost hardy in Phoenix to 18 F (-8C), Growth Habits: Evergreen perennials, height from 12 to 18 inches (30-45 cm), Watering Needs: Flourishes with regular watering in summer. EOL has data for 8 attributes, including: Known occurrences, collected specimens and observations of Lily of the Nile. There are six to eight pairs of secondary veins arising from the midrib. http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/FLOPO_0022142, http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/RO_0002471, Papilio rutulus Lucas 1852 (Western Tiger Swallowtail), http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/RO_0002453, http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/RO_0002619, Bombus pensylvanicus (De Geer 1773) (American Bumblebee), http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/PATO_0001992, http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/PATO_0001993, http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/RO_0002303, http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/ENVO_01001125, http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/RO_0002623, Papilio zelicaon Lucas 1852 (Anise Swallowtail), http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/RO_0002557, http://eol.org/schema/terms/NumberPublicRecordsInBOLD, http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/FLOPO_0900032, http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/RO_0003000, http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/CHEBI_15379, http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/ECOCORE_00000130, Agapanthus africanus (L.) Hoffmanns. If transplanting rhizomes dig a hole 4 inches deep and place them 12 to 18 inches apart when the weather has warmed up in the spring and the threat of frost has passed. It's likely that lily of the nile 'Northern Star' was given its cultivar name because its appearance is similar to that of the actual North Star. Individual specimens are most effective when massed in a flower border or in containers. The summer flowers don't last very long but their thick strap shaped leaves are decorative the year around. Lily of the Nile - Wikipedia Contrary to the common name, they are not true lilies, the genus name is derived from Italian botanist Giovanni Zantedeschi (1773-1846) and the species name aethiopica means South African nodding to its origins.