Agapanthus campanulatus in Drakensberg grass

The wind pollinated grass species growing here don’t need flower colour as does Agapanthus for luring insects. Wind pollination is another wonder of nature.

The long floral scapes, in Agapanthus campanulatus up to 70 cm long, allow the flowers to compete with the grasses for sun and pollinator attention. The scapes are stout and firm, less responsive to breezes than grass culms for periodic flashes of flower to searching eyes in years when the grass grows tall.

Large grassland colonies of this Agapanthus still bloom in the mountains away from major human developments (Manning, 2009; Pooley, 1998; Van Wyk and Malan, 1997; iNaturalist; www.plantzafrica.com).