Definition

Noun: * A perennial plant of the genus Agapanthus, native to South Africa, characterized by long, strap-like leaves and producing large, rounded clusters (umbels) of showy, trumpet-shaped flowers, typically in shades of blue to purple, and sometimes white.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The border along the driveway was filled with blooming lily of the Nile.
  • She divided her lily of the Nile clumps in the early spring.
  • The most common color for the lily of the Nile is a striking sky blue.

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used in horticultural and gardening contexts to describe a popular, low-maintenance ornamental plant suitable for borders, containers, and as a cut flower.
• While "lily of the Nile" is a common name, it is a misnomer as the plant is neither a true lily () nor from the Nile region. Its accurate botanical family is .

Variants and Related Words

• Agapanthus (n): The botanical genus name, often used interchangeably with the common name "lily of the Nile."
• African lily (n): Another common name for the same plant.

Synonyms

• Agapanthus
• African lily

Related Phrases

• Agapanthus praecox: A specific, commonly cultivated species within the genus.
• Umbels of flowers: A botanical term describing the flower cluster's structure, which is characteristic of this plant.

Noun

1. any of various plants of the genus Agapanthus having umbels of showy blue to purple flowers