Four native alternatives to agapanthus for an Aussie-filled garden

4 native alternatives 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 are an almost replica of agapanthus colours. 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. 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 flower 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: