The bright purple, blue and white flowers of agapanthus can be seen far and wide across Australia. While it’s definitely a favourite among Aussies, some varieties of agapanthus can spread a bit too easily. But there are plants similar to agapanthus in both appearance and hardiness – and choosing native varieties can also be beneficial for your local environment.
So, let’s go through some key details about agapanthus, as well as some beautiful native plants you could consider instead.
Are agapanthus plants invasive?
Agapanthus are technically classified as a weed in Australia, according to the Centre for Invasive Species Solutions Weeds Australia website. Also known as African Lily or Lily of the Nile, agapanthus is originally from South Africa but is commonly used in Australian gardens for its colourful blooms and low-effort maintenance. It’s a perennial plant with fleshy roots, dark-green foliage and tall spikes of flowers.
The problem with agapanthus lies in its spreading ability. The older agapanthus is a clumping plant that self-seeds, meaning that it’s fleshy root system spreads quickly and takes over large spaces with ease. While that may be beneficial if you need to fill a large area, this plant can take over space that other plants inhabit, including native plants. This means that agapanthus can be considered an invasive plant.
However, new agapanthus plants that you find in nurseries and plant centres have been ‘sterilised’, meaning that they do not spread easily. So to answer the question, agapanthus can be invasive, if they are of the old variety, or a normal, easy plant, if they are of the newer varieties.
For native plant landscapers like Zach Barnett from Boronia Landscapes, removing old agapanthus plants can be a tricky conversation with his clients. They are beautiful and very easy to care for, but taking over the native environment is something that should definitely be avoided, even in urban spaces like backyards.
Instead, we’ve got four native alternatives for you to consider, that will help bring biodiversity back to suburban and city areas, while still providing a beautiful outlook.
4 native plants similar to agapanthus
Blue flax lily (Dianella caerulea)
Blue flax lily is already quite common in urban areas, including parks and council spaces. This is because it is quick to grow, and easy to maintain.
The purple hues of the flowers and berries that this dianella variety has is very similar to agapanthus flowers. The only difference is, you’ve got brilliant yellow added in there as well!
This native plant alternative is also a clumping perennial, which means it grows in a similar way to agapanthus (but is a native). Blue flax lily enjoys a sunny or partly shady aspect, and grows happily in most conditions, but especially well in coastal areas.
Boronia Landscapes loves this option as a native alternative to agapanthus, as it is similar in growing style, plant shape and flowering colour.
Swamp lily (Crinum pedunculatum)
Another perennial, this large lily species is native to coastal Queensland and northern NSW. It has a long spike of flowers similar to that of agapanthus, that bloom from November to March.
While this plant is a beautiful native, it may not work in every garden, as it can grow quite tall and wide (up to 2-3m in every direction!). They are hardy and versatile, and work well as a lone feature plant, rather than in a group.
Swamp lily is also quite happy living in a pot, or on a nature strip, in a street planting scenario.
Austral indigo (Indigofera australis)
Austral indigo has a happy pink flower that will brighten up any garden. Although it is not similar in leaf shape or growing style to agapanthus, native indigo is definitely worth the mention for it’s luminous colours.
A great plant to draw in wildlife, including pretty butterflies, Austral indigo is another perennial to add to your garden.
This plant flowers in spring, and will delight you with spires of pink, purple and lovely green foliage in contrast. And the best part is, you can use the leaves and stems as a natural blue/purple dye!
Zach Barnett explains that Australian indigo can be more difficult to find in plant centres, so it is always best to visit your local nursery or a nursery that specialises in native plants to source them.
Lord Howe Island wedding lily (Dietes robinsoniana)
This Australian native plant heralds from Lord Howe Island off the coast of NSW, and the white flowers on it are spectacular.
Only lasting a day at a time, the flowers from the wedding lily bloom from spring to summer.
This plant is another hardy species, however, it does not fare well in cold temperatures, so southern states should steer clear of this one!
Tips for reducing the spread of agapanthus
If you’ve got an older variety of agapanthus in your garden, then an invasive spread may be a possibility. There are several ways to reduce their advancement, including:
- Deadheading: dead-heading is a term that means to cut off the flower heads of plants. With agapanthus, it’s pretty simple, all you have to do is remove the large flower heads once the purple blooms have finished off. Remember not to jostle or shake the heads, so no seeds fall out and disperse in your garden.
- Disposal of seed heads: it’s important to remember that agapanthus seeds are self-seeding, which means that they can fall onto the ground and grow without any help needed. This means that proper disposal of your ‘dead-heads’ is essential! Placing them in the green waste bin, or taking them to your local tip are the best ways to ensure they do not spread. Agapanthus seeds cannot go in the compost.
- Completely remove: overall, if you want to be rid of the agapanthus spread entirely, it may be best to completely remove them. All root material needs to be pulled out of the ground, and disposal of the plant, including any soil removal, should be done with caution (so it doesn’t keep spreading elsewhere).
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