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Agapanthus ‘Purple Delight’
Agapanthus ‘Purple Delight’
COMMON NAMES
Purple Delight Lily of the Nile
Agapanthus (ag-uh-PAN-thus) Greek for lovely flower
‘Purple Delight’ - cultivar name
GROUP 
Monocot
FAMILY
Some taxonomists put in Liliaceae, some put in Amaryllidaceae, and still others put in Agapanthaceae.
ORIGIN
South Africa
DESCRIPTION
Purple Delight Lily of the Nile is an herbaceous perennial that averages 12 to 18 inches in height with a comparable spread. Flower stalks can reach 36 inches high. Clumps form from a central rosette of tubers or rhizomes. It has a moderately fast growth rate.
Leaves are evergreen, strap-shaped averaging 12 to 18 inches long by about 1 inch wide, alternate in arrangement, simple with entire margins, and medium green in color. They have parallel veins.
The flowers are dark purple, funnel-shaped, perfect, and are borne in rounded clusters or umbels that can rise above the foliage as much as 36 inches. The predominant bloom period is midsummer to early fall.
Fruit are small brown capsules.
HARDINESS
It is hardy in USDA zones 8 to 11. It will die 
back to the ground at lower temperature range and usually resprout in spring if somewhat protected.
LIGHT
Full sun to light shade
SALT
Moderate Salt Spray Tolerance – it will tolerate some spray, but it is best to have more protection such as a fence or building as an additional barrier behind the first row of plantings or the first dunes.
SOIL
It prefers richer well-drained soil in pH range of 6.5 to 7.5, but it will tolerate other soils.
WATERING
It has moderate drought tolerance once established, so some water is needed for survival in dry spells. As with most plants, though, ample irrigation in droughts keeps it healthier and looking better. Dry spells without water may reduce blooming.
PROPAGATION
Division of clumps; separation of offsets
PRUNING
Pruning is basically limited to keeping plant tidy with removal of dead leaves and spent flower stalks.
FERTILIZING
It has no special fertilizer needs. Unless a soil test suggests otherwise, a slow-release balanced analysis fertilizer applied per the product label will work.
PESTS
Borers - University of Kentucky
Caterpillars - University of Missouri
Snails - University of California
DISEASES
Botrytis Blight - Missouri Botanical Gardens
Anthracnose - University of California
DEER
Resistant, though not deer-proof
There are very few totally “deer-proof” plants. There are also, relatively speaking, few plants that are considered a preferred food supply of deer. Most plants fall in the big gap between. One of the biggest variables is the available preferred food supply in a given area. If their preferred food is scarce, they will munch on most anything.
OTHER
USES
Specimen plant, borders, mass planting, mixed planting, containers
California Poison Control gives Agapanthus spp. a listing of:
1 - Dermal Skin - contact with these plants can cause symptoms ranging from redness, itching, and rash to painful blisters like skin burns.
University of California lists Agapanthus spp. as: Minor Toxicity: Ingestion of these plants may cause minor illnesses such as vomiting or diarrhea.
Dermatitis: The juice, sap, or thorns of these plants may cause a skin rash or irritation. Wash the affected area of skin with soap and water as soon as possible after contact. The rashes may be very serious and painful. Call the Poison Control Center or your doctor if symptoms appear following contact with the plants.
Merck Veterinary Manual lists Agapanthus orientalis as: Unknown toxin(s) but thought to be a sticky, acrid, irritant latex rather than allergens. Calcium oxalate crystals and unknowns found in all parts, especially rhizomes. Ingestion causes immediate intense pain, local irritation to mucous membranes, excess salivation, swollen tongue and pharynx, diarrhea, and dyspnea. Pets' access to plant associated with rhizomes brought indoors for winter storage.