Despite no official South African presence again in 2023 South Africa’s horticultural image was held high at the Royal Horticultural Society’s annual Chelsea Flower Show by the Agapanthus “Black Jack” which was has been crowned Plant of The Year this month. Bred over 18 years by Hartbeespoort locals Andy De Wet and Quintin Bean of The Aloe Farm, the plant produces deep purple flowers with bigger and fuller blooms than other agapanthus.
The award-winning agapanthus is not the first success for The Aloe Farm growers, with their “Fireworks” agapanthus having placed third at the show in 2018.
The flower was entered on the show by Sparsholt College, an agricultural college near Winchester, Hampshire, having been imported by UK flower dealers Thomson & Morgan.
Agapanthus are indigenous to South Africa. They typically flower in summer and are found in a number of varieties of colours.