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agapanthus

noun
ag·​a·​pan·​thus | \ ˌa-gə-ˈpan(t)-thəs How to pronounce agapanthus (audio) \
plural agapanthus also agapanthuses

Definition of agapanthus

: any of several African plants (genus Agapanthus) of the lily family cultivated for their umbels of showy blue, purple, or white flowers

Examples of agapanthus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Since only a few gardeners are likely to sow seeds from agapanthus, also known as the Lily of the Nile, the stalks that have completed flowering can be cut back to within the foliage. Tom Maccubbin, orlandosentinel.com, "Trim Knock Out roses when most flowers have declined," 29 June 2019 Story Continued Below Plant summer blooming bulbs such as crocosmia, gingers, lilies, canna, pineapple lily (Eucomis), elephant ears, crinum, agapanthus and others. Dan Gill, nola.com, "Now’s the time to plant summer blooming bulbs," 20 Apr. 2019 Southern California Plant summer-blooming bulbs, corms, and tubers, including acidanthera, agapanthus, tuberous begonias, caladiums, calla lilies, dahlias, daylilies, gladiolus, iris, ixia, montbretias, tiger flowers, tuberoses, and watsonias. Thad Orr, Sunset, "Your Essential Gardening To-Do List for April," 22 Jan. 2018 Bulb-type plants: Achimenes, African iris, agapanthus, amaryllis, blackberry lily, bulbine, caladiums, canna, crinum, crocosmia, day lily, eucharis lily, gladiolus, gloriosa lily, peacock ginger, society garlic, rain lily and walking iris. Tom Maccubbin, OrlandoSentinel.com, "June in the garden," 26 May 2018 Plant summer-blooming bulbs: Now is a good time to plant crocosmia, gingers, lilies, canna, pineapple lily (Eucomis), elephant ears, crinum, agapanthus and others. Dan Gill, NOLA.com, "This week's gardening tips: stake tomato plants and add sod," 29 Apr. 2018 Bulbs: African iris, agapanthus, amaryllis, blackberry lily, bulbine, calla lily, crinum, crocosmia, day lily, gladiolus, kaffir lily, narcissus, society garlic, spider lily, rain lilies and walking iris. Tom Maccubbin, OrlandoSentinel.com, "September in the garden," 26 Aug. 2017 Here is more information about agapanthus: Dan Gill is a horticulturist with the LSU AgCenter. Dan Gill, NOLA.com, "Myth or fact: cutting spent agapanthus flowers reduces blooming: Dan Gill's mailbag," 8 July 2017 Bulbs-type plants: Achimenes, African iris, agapanthus, amaryllis, blackberry lily, bulbine, caladiums, canna, crinum, crocosmia, day lily, eucharis lily, gladiolus, gloriosa lily, peacock ginger, society garlic, rain lily and walking iris. Tom Maccubbin, OrlandoSentinel.com, "June gardening calendar," 27 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'agapanthus.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of agapanthus

circa 1789, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for agapanthus

borrowed from New Latin, genus name, probably borrowed from Greek agápē "love, affection" + ánthos "flower" — more at agape entry 2, anthology

Note: The genus name was introduced by Charles Louis L'Hériter de Brutelle in Sertum Anglicum, seu Plantae Rariores quae in Hortis juxta Londinum, Imprimis in Horto Regio Kewensis excoluntur, ab anno 1786 ad annum 1787 observatae (Paris, 1788; actually published in parts, 1789-93), p. 10. L'Héritier provides no explanation for the name.

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