Object details
Object number
HRT20
Creator(s)
African
Title
Lily of the Nile (Agapanthus spp.)
Date
tender perennial
Medium
Flowering bulb
Dimensions
Height (up to): 121.9 cm (48 in.)
Commentary
Agapanthus praecox, Agapanthus africanus
Agapanthus can flourish pot-bound for up to 75 years. Elegant spikes of cobalt flowers soar over arching leaves. Each trumpet-shaped floret resembles a miniature lily. This resemblance inspired its common name, yet the lily of the Nile is neither a lily nor native to the Nile River basin. Indigenous to southern Africa, Agapanthus thrives in the shade along the banks of rivers and streams. Once included in the lily family, it is actually more closely related to daffodils and onions.
Bibliography
Jenny Pore, "Visions of Agapanthus," Inside the Collection (blog), Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, 11 July 2023, https://www.gardnermuseum.org/blog/visions-agapanthus
Gallery
Courtyard
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