Agapanthus comptonii   

'Headbourne Hybrids'

Lily of the Nile

The 'Headbourne Hybrids' were bred by Lewis Palmer, son of the Earl of Selbourne, in his garden at Headbourne Worthy near Winchester. Lewis was  a generous chap who gave away many of his seedlings so these hybrids rapidly became a mainstay of refined southern English borders.  

With distant origins in South Africa these lovely plants only survive in very well-drained soil. The slightest hint of waterlogging and they rot. Site them in a warm spot and prepare the ground with plenty of grit and rich compost. They are not completely drought tolerant and a fertile soil with a little moisture helps them establish. 

Over time, the arching, fresh-green strap-like leaves form a glorious clump from which tall stems, bearing bright blue trumpets, emerge in mid summer. A protective mulch in winter is a very good idea. 

They make wonderful specimens for tubs as they don't mind a little overcrowding but wrap the container during winter as pots can freeze solid. 

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