Agapanthus Tom Thumb

Agapanthus 'Tom Thumb' is a compact and floriferous hybrid Agapanthus. It produces modest-sized flowers in umbels, by the dozen on a single stem, of an intense blue, edged with white. Its medium green ribbon-like foliage is deciduous in winter, and it is considered quite hardy. When its flowers appear, usually between May and August, it metamorphoses into an airy bouquet on short 40cm (16in) flower stems that tolerate inclement weather without bending. It has a beautiful effect in a border or a flowering pot, and this variety can be planted in the ground, in a sheltered location and with winter protection, in many regions. It holds up very well in bouquets.

 Agapanthus are plants from the lily family, native to South Africa, which naturally hybridize in nature or in our gardens. Agapanthus 'Tom Thumb' is a hybrid cultivar that stands out for its compact growth, early flowering, and floribundance. It was selected in New Zealand by Vance Hopper. This plant develops and multiplies rapidly from a stump with fleshy rhizomes, forming a dense clump of linear, narrow, shiny medium green foliage, with a diameter of 50cm (20in) at maturity. The flowering is abundant from the first years, taking place in summer, earlier or later depending on the climate, and lasting about 6 weeks. Solid and sturdy stems, about 40cm (16in) tall, bear at their tips light hemispherical umbels, 8 to 10cm (3 to 4in) in diameter, composed of about twenty small campanulate flowers of intense blue, carried by long peduncles.

Agapanthus 'Tom Thumb' is a lovely low variety that brings an exotic and light touch to sunny borders. It is best placed in a protected and south-facing location, and don't forget to provide a thick mulch around its base. Whether in a drift, border, rockery, pot, or planter, it is suitable for a variety of uses. It is particularly well-suited to mild coastal climates, although its average hardiness, ranging from -12 to -14°C, allows it to acclimate in many regions with sandy or well-drained soil. It is very beautiful when combined with other varieties in a minimalist setting. It is also very decorative in exotic-themed borders with Daylilies, Shrubby Salvias, or Red Hot Pokers.