Not every Lily of the Nile needs a haircut before it goes into winter hibernation. Knowing whether to prune depends entirely on which variety you have in your garden. To help you get your plants through the cold season safely, I’ve put together a quick guide on how to handle winter care like a pro.
Understanding Your Lily of the Nile in Winter
The Lily of the Nile (also known as Agapanthus) comes in two main flavors: evergreen and deciduous. While the evergreen types keep their lush green leaves all year round, the deciduous varieties behave a bit differently. These plants pull all their energy out of the leaves and store it in their underground rhizomes to survive the frost.
If you have a deciduous variety, you’ll notice the leaves turning yellow and eventually wilting as the weather cools down. This is actually a good thing! You can help the plant out by cutting those yellow leaves all the way back. Pruning does two things: it signals to the plant that it’s time to switch into “winter mode,” and it prevents mold or rot from setting in on dead foliage.
Setting the Stage for a Successful Winter
Once you’ve pruned back your Agapanthus, it’s time to find it a cozy winter home. Ideally, you want a well-ventilated spot that stays between 32°F and 45°F (0–7°C). Try not to let it get much warmer than that; if the plant stays too toasty during the winter, it might get “lazy” and produce fewer flowers come springtime.
Here’s the big difference: evergreen varieties still need a bit of light during the winter. However, the deciduous types you just pruned can happily hang out in a dark basement or garage. Just remember to water them very sparingly—just enough so they don’t bone-dry—and definitely skip the fertilizer until spring.
Pro-Tips for Spring Awakening
- Don’t shock the plant with direct, intense sunlight immediately after moving it back outside.
- Start feeding your Lily of the Nile once a month as soon as you see new growth.
- Increase your watering schedule once the growing season officially kicks off.
