Agapanthus are those tough ubiquitous plants that are flowering now and providing uncommon color in very common landscapes. They are used for freeway plantings, mall and shopping center plantings, parks, and so on, their common planting usually steers gardeners away from their use, at least in the typical forms available..the standard large types in bright blues and ivory white. Their large mass is both imposing and also provides bold impact in any landscape. They are tough, easy growing, AND planted nearly everywhere! That makes them second of evem third choices of consideration in any good garden planting. BUT, wait a minute! There are VERY nice, showy ones also available and not at all well known. Storm Cloud is one of them. It is a spectacular thing! Big, bold, imposing enough to give anyone that ‘WOW’ factor of impact when they see their first ones! Big clusters to perhaps 1 foot wide with dozens of bells in glowing deep cobalt blue violet. The petals are shiny and there are many blooms in each clulster. Additionally, this is a big bold plant, creating much drama and showiness wherever planted, especially in large groups! Bold strap shaped leaves in huge clumps are evergreen in mild areas, deciduous in colder areas. The flower clusters can be huge and abundant, especially if given ample watering and feeding. just imagine huge balls of shining glossy bell flowers in a huge round cluster, topping thick stems to perhaps 4 ft tall and you have an idea of what this plant can do in the landscape. Use it in any location you want to create drama and a stop in your tracks impact. I do not generally favor the usual agapanthus in any size, but this one is unique and different, good enough for the most discerning gardener, tough and easy care enough for even the novice (hard to kill plant) and offering great rewards when they bloom(mid to later season for agapanthus) There are others such as Negrita which are darker, but they appear as shadows (to me) since they do not have shiny petals (as in Storm Cloud). A. inapertus is likely in the parentage, since it has those glowing hues in the blossoms, Try it if you have a difficult space to plant in sun, along a country road, etc. Basic cultural needs, average water. (Remember, they are used in tough landscapes/ freeways, public parks, malls, etc. all areas which need tough plants.)
Those blossoms are quite showy, and make great combination plantings with things like summer blooming shrubs(pink or yellow, or some of the orange abutilons) and trees(pink crepe myrtles). Think of color combinations when you plant. Even common daylilies in orange or yellow hues work well with these! As do goldenrod and Japanese anemones, sunflowers, yellow leafed cvs. of heucheras, heucharellas, Black eyed susan(Rudbeckias), coreopsis, helenium. Just think of the color wheel for complement or contrast if you wish to try this wonderful variety!