Nile, Lily Of The

lily of the Nile

lily of the Nile, (Agapanthus africanus), also called African lily, perennial herbaceous plant of the amaryllis family (Amaryllidaceae), native to Africa. Lily of the Nile is a common ornamental in warm climates, grown for its large spherical flower clusters. The flowers are funnel-shaped and typically blue, purple, or white in colour; the clusters are borne on long stalks. The attractive, thick, dark green leaves are sword-shaped. If grown in a climate with frost, they must be kept in containers and moved indoors to survive the cold weather.