Agapanthus africanus ‘Tom Thumb’ (Dwarf Agapanthus)

A Lilliputian version of the classic Agapanthus africanus which even after many years only grows to 50 x 50cms. 

We’ve said it elsewhere regarding Agapanthus but it’s important to emphasise again that we wouldn’t compare like with like just because they share a name. The Big ‘uns and the Little ‘uns really mustn’t be compared. This Little ‘un is properly little, and while it shares the richly green strappy leaves and Ming dynasty-blue pompom flowers of the hulking great Brobdingnagian ‘Africanus’, it needs to be handled rather differently to make the most of its delicate features.

Plant them into the ground as proper border specimens to wend their way through a dry garden or cluster them prettily in hummocky puffs for Mediterranean inspired settings. Up to you. They look charming planted to meander in stream like drifts with those little blue bobbles bobbing along on top.

Excellent planted into pots too, you could line them up on window ledges or group a few on table tops in a sunny courtyard, and very dainty and decorative they are when displayed in this way.

Wherever you plop them, make sure it’s in full sun and in a sheltered south or west facing position for the best success. They are happy in any moist but well drained soil, and will usually die down in the autumn and winter. Despite their hardiness, they would benefit from some winter protection in cold areas so you can give them a mulch or shift their pots to a frost-free spot. 

N.B. When clipping several plants with the same tool, have a bucket containing a 5% bleach solution and swish your blades around for 30 seconds between plants to sterilise them. This will help avoid the chance of cross contamination of disease.

As with all woody plants, plant high, exposing as much of the taper at the base of the trunk as possible. Allowing soil to accumulate round the base of a tree can be fatal. Keep very well watered when first planted.