Accession Data

Agapanthus africanus

Common Name: Lily of the Nile

Family: Amaryllidaceae

Country of Origin: SW. Cape Prov.

Description: To 20 inches, evergreen; leaves 8-18, persistent, linear-lanceolate, to 1/2" wide; umbel 12-30 flowered; flowers funnelform, deep violet-blue, to 1 1/2 inches long. Often confused with A. orientalis, but less commonly cultivated; cultivars listed under this species generally are referable to A. orientalis

Uses: Medicinal: A plant of fertility and pregnancy – used by South African traditional healers as phytomedicine to treat ailments related to pregnancy and to facilitate labor. Orally or rectally, as a decoction, to ensure an easy delivery and a healthy child. It may facilitate expulsion of the placenta and augment uterine contractions. Roots worn as necklace for easy childbirth and fertility. Decoction used in washing newborn babies; also, an infant tonic.
Considered an aphrodisiac, used for impotency and barrenness.
Leaves used around wrists to bring down fever. From Philippine Medicinal Plants online.(ref?)

Accession Data

USDA Zone: 9-10

Accession #: 198501085

Accession Date: 1985-12-31 00:00:00

Bloom Status: 🪴 Not Flowering

Location: 2109

Quantity: 2

Source: Unknown

Classification

Division: Magnoliophyta

Class: Liliopsida

Subclass: monocots

Order: Asparagales

Family: Amaryllidaceae

SubFamily: Agapanthoideae

Flowering Data:

This accession has been observed in bloom on:
Year Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004

References

  1. Plants For A Future. Last accessed on Wednesday, 04 December, 2019.
  2. Angiosperm Phylogeny Website at MoBot. Last accessed on Tuesday, 03 December, 2019.
  3. WCSP (2019). World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Last accessed on Wednesday, 04 December, 2019.

Images

Agapanthus africanus