Agapanthus

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Agapanthus has deep green soft fleshy leaves and distinctive vivid blue, white or purple flowers on tall thin stems.  Agapanthus is common on the Mornington Peninsula and for many people, the tall blue or white flowers are one of the welcome signs of summer.

Originating in South Africa, they are well adapted for our climate and multiply to form large clumps of broad, strappy leaves. The agapanthus is a member of the onion family (Alliaceae).   Agapanthus invades bushland and roadside vegetation. It forms dense stands, where its clumping roots displace all other vegetation and smother native ground-covers, prevent regeneration of trees and shrubs, and eliminate native fauna habitat. Unfortunately, it has been promoted as a fire-resistant plant for residential gardens, but this could have an impact on fire frequency in native vegetation, making infested bush difficult to burn.  

Every flower head produces dozens of long, black seeds that are easily carried away by wind, soil movement or water and quickly spread into bushland. Agapanthus can also reproduce vegetatively via its short creeping underground rhizome (underground rooting stem), forming large ever-increasing clumps. 

Many infestations have started as dumped garden waste and in contaminated soil. Seeds may also be spread like this too.

If you want to keep agapanthus in your garden, cut off the spent flowers before they drop their seed. 

if you want to remove Agapanthus from your garden, it can be dug out or pulled out as the rhizome is shallowly rooted. All of the rhizome must be removed and destroyed off-site, as any rhizome left in the ground will regrow. Plants left lying on the soil surface may take root again. Be on the lookout for new plants springing up near your existing plants, or in the disturbed soil left after removal.