Quink Drops

Through the years, we’ve trialed over 130 different agapanthus species and cultivars. One we currently have on trial that has us in love is Agapanthus ‘Quink Drops’. Not only are the buds near black and the flowers dark blue, but the sturdy flower stalks have reached 5′ tall. This is unquestionably the tallest agapanthus we’ve ever grown–a welcome contrast to all the overly short new introductions. This English selection from nurseryman Graham Gough, is named after a cough drop. Later this year, we’ll be chopping up our only clump to start the propagation process.

Agapanthus ‘Quink Drops’

Sum of Summer

He’re a shot from our garden that we see every morning, featuring a drift of the giant, sun-loving Hosta ‘Sum and Substance‘…and much more.

Summer Garden facing South
Summer Garden facing South

Below is another shot from the same location in the garden, but looking north. Who said summer gardens need to be boring?

Summer Garden facing North
Summer Garden facing North

A Shot of Summer to Go

Here’s a recent garden combo that we’ve been enjoying with purple eucomis (pineapple lily), Agapanthus ‘Navy Blue, backed with Foeniculum vulgare ‘Purpureum’ (bronze fennel).

Summer Blue Genes

Agapanthus ‘Navy Blue’ is looking quite regal this week in front of a patch of bronze fennel as a backdrop.

Agapanthus ‘Twister’ looking lovely with Sanguisorba ‘Little Angel’ as a backdrop.

Beyond Flowers

We love the appearance of plants like agapanthus in the fall, long past the season when the showy blue flowers graced the top of each now browning stalk. In fall, it’s more like looking out on a mass of punk rock hairdos. These garden features are so much more interesting than flat beds of mulch, created far too early by garden neat freaks. This is the cultivar Agapanthus ‘Prolific Blue’ which puts on a superb fall/winter show.

Friday Morning Podcast

Here are some decorative seed pods from the garden this week.

Agapanthus – blue flowers for the summer garden

Agapanthus Stevie's Wonder mass in flower2

Here are our top two performing agapanthus in full flower now…top is Agapanthus ‘Stevies’ Wonder‘ and the bottom is Agapanthus ‘Ellamae’.  We’ve trialed lots of agapanthus, and these are absolutely the best we’ve grown, both with 3′ tall flower stalks that have been flowering for several weeks and are still growing strong. Agapanthus Ellamae mass in flower2

Agapanthus ‘Ellamae’

Agapanthus Ellamae clump in flower Agapanthus Ellamae flower closeup

Not all agapanthus are created equal, and in our trials, Agapanthus ‘Ellamae’ is one of the best, flowering well after our cold winter.  Here is it in the gardens at Juniper Level today…a lovely addition to the summer garden.