Agapanthus Golden Drop

Agapanthus 'Golden Drop', when it was presented at the Chelsea flower show  in 2012, caused a sensation.  Firstly because of its small size, not exceeding 40cm (16in) in all directions, and then because of the delicacy and brightness of its variegated foliage in pale yellow, cream, and pale green. As for its summer flowering, it is generous but unusually light, made up of small clusters of light lavender blue flowers carried well above the foliage. The small size of this variety naturally makes it suitable for terraces or small gardens. But its wild plant appearance also promises a very bright future in natural settings. This deciduous and hardy bulbous plant is grown in full sun, in rich, well-drained, moist to dry soil.

This new hybrid Agapanthus is a bulbous plant from the lily family, relatively hardy and its foliage disappears in autumn.

The 'Golden Drop' variety is an exceptional New Zealand hybrid, ultra compact and variegated with yellow. The plant grows from a short rhizome with fleshy roots. It forms a dense clump, composed of particularly thin ribbon-like leaves that resemble those of certain grasses. They are a somewhat greyish green, broadly edged with more or less pale yellow or washed with pale green, deciduous. When in flower, it will not exceed 60cm (24in) in height (40cm (16in) for the foliage) and 40 to 50cm (16 to 20in) in width. From early to midsummer, from June to August, its sturdy floral stems appear, crowned with umbels containing only 7 to 10 campanulate flowers in a lovely light blue with lavender nuances. This bulbous plant is hardy to about -12°C (10.4°F), in well-drained soil and sheltered exposure.

The 'Golden Drop' Agapanthus is used in the background of borders, surrounded by low-growing perennials with grey foliage for example, or to border pathways, with the base covered in creeping plants (Cerastiums, Artemisias, creeping Euonymus, Aubrietas). It can also be associated with perennial or shrub salvias, border daylilies, as well as Alstroemerias and lilies. It can also be grown in large pots on the terrace, in a pretty wide pot that will allow this plant to produce numerous flowering stems. This method of cultivation has the advantage of being able to store it during winter in case of intense frosts. It is a plant that thrives by the seaside, in an English cottage, and even in a wild or naturalistic-style garden, which is water-efficient.