African lily 'Bicton Bell'

Agapanthus

How to grow African lily 'Bicton Bell'

Keep in mind when planting that Bicton Bell is thought of as half hardy, so remember to protect this plant from frosts and low temperatures.

Growing Bicton Bell from seed

Propagation from seed is a slow process. Sow the seeds in late summer to autumn, in warm climates, or early spring in colder regions.

Seed should be sown in deep (10 cm) trays, in a mixture of equal parts river sand and fine compost, and kept semi-shaded and moist. Fresh seed germinates readily within 6 to 8 weeks2 but can take up to 3 months1. Germination can be erratic: between 30 to 90 days. The majority come up at 30 to 50 days, but don’t throw away the pots too soon, you may have a couple of “latecomers” 3.

The seed should be sown thinly as the seedlings will stay in the tray for their first year. Seedlings should be potted up into individual containers during their second year and can be planted into the garden or permanent pots in their third year. Flowering can be expected from their third or fourth year2.

Soil temperature should be kept higher than 15°C / 59°F to ensure good germination.

Transplanting Bicton Bell

Ensure that temperatures are mild and all chance of frost has passed before planting out, as Bicton Bell is a half hardy plant.

Harvesting Bicton Bell

Footnotes

1 The Flower Expert: Agapanthus

2 Agapanthus praecox on PlantzAfrica

3 Agapanthus on Seedaholic

4 :The South African Gardener’s Survival Manual; first published 1985