Agapanthus Blue Infinity PANAGA

Agapanthus 'Panaga' owes its evocative name of Blue Infinity® to its exceptional flowering, both in terms of the size of its inflorescences and its ability to produce new floral stems during the summer. In this voluptuous selection, the enormous ball-shaped inflorescences bring together dozens of small campanulate flowers in a light blue colour with darker blue stripes. Like all evergreen Agapanthus, Blue Infinity does not like very cold winters, but it offers a very beautiful clump of narrow dark green leaves, even in winter. Perfect in large pots on the terrace, or planted in small groups near walkways, this large plant is a wonder. It should be planted in rich and well-drained soil, in full sun, and should not lack water during its growth period.

Agapanthus belong to the lily family, most of them being descendants of two South African species called Agapanthus praecox (africanus) and A. campanulatus. The hybrid variety Blue Infinity 'Panaga', distributed by Sapho®, was recently born in France, from the hands of Nelly Panaget in Saint Martin des Champs. It was awarded at the Plantarium in Boskoop in 2019. This variety develops a clump of fairly narrow and linear leaves, of glossy dark green colour, about 60-70cm (24-28in) high, which remains very ornamental even in winter. The clump widens and becomes more dense over the years, reaching up to 1m (3ft) wide under good conditions. The spherical umbels, 25 to 30cm (10 to 12in) wide, are carried by sturdy stems exceeding 1m (3ft) in height, and can reach 1.50m (5ft) in rich soil. They are quite sturdy, and extend well beyond the foliage. Flowering often begins in June and continues until September. The blue flower buds unfold into numerous iridescent trumpets, with a light blue hue typical of Agapanthus. Each petal is marked with a darker central line. The stamens, of the same mauve blue colour, are topped with dark anthers.

This evergreen variety seems to be hardy up to about -8°-10°C, in a sheltered position and for a very short period. Give it a prime location: either plant it in a very large pot to overwinter and place it on a sunny terrace in summer, or in the ground, in a warm and rich, deep, not too dry and well-drained soil. It is a plant that thrives by the sea, in an English cottage, and even in a city garden, used as a focal point on a terrace, in an exotic or contemporary style. It goes well with perennials such as daylilies, red hot pokers, rose campions (Lychnis coronaria), or even with ornamental grasses in a more minimalist style. Cut and placed in a vase, the flowers will bring freshness and a lot of originality to the house.

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