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Lily of the Nile
Picture Source:California Cut Flower Commission
| Popular Name: Lily of the Nile |
| Botanical Name and Pronunciation: Agapanthus africanus (ag-a-PAN-thus af-ri-KAH-nus) |
| Common Name(s): African-Lily, Greek Love Flower |
| Color(s): blue, white |
| Form and Size: The stems of lily of the Nile are 2 – 3 feet long. The stems ends have heads that are clusters made up of small tubular blooms. Each head has about a 6-inch diameter. |
| Vase Life: 6 – 12 days, sometimes longer |
| Availability: mainly year-round, peaks from March – August |
| Care Instructions: Remove any leaves from the bottom of the stem, cut under water and place in fresh water with flower food. Lily of the Nile are somewhat toxic, ingestion can cause problems. The sap can cause skin irritation. |
| History and Usage: A member of the Amaryllidaceae (amaryllis) family, lily of the Nile originated in South Africa. Its botanical name, Agapanthus africanus, comes from the word “agape” which is Greek for love and “anthos” which is Greek for flower. This is why another common name is Greek love flower. Africanus means it comes from Africa, which is the explanation for another of its common names, African-lily. |
| Points of Interest: Relatives of lily of the Nile include daffodil, narcissus, lycoris, alstroemeria and clivia. |
| Ethylene Sensitive: Yes |