'Agapanthus' is the only genus in the subfamily 'Agapanthoideae' of the flowering plant family 'Amaryllidaceae'. The family is in the monocot order 'Asparagales'. The name is derived from Greek: ἀγάπη (agapē – "love"), ἄνθος (anthos – "flower").

Some species of 'Agapanthus' are commonly known as lily of the Nile, or African lily in the UK. However, they are not lilies and all of the species are native to Southern Africa (South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland, Mozambique), though some have become naturalized in scattered places around the world. (Australia, Great Britain, Mexico, Ethiopia, Jamaica, etc.)

It is a summer-flowering bulb for Southern gardens. 'Agapanthus' makes an elegant addition to any landscape. Its strap-like leaves make an excellent ground cover and its conspicuous flowers bloom all summer long.

The blossoms commonly come in shades of blue or purple, but also are available in white and pink. In the old days, the only 'Agapanthus' available had flowers in shades of powder blue, but recently, new ones are showing up with amazingly colorful flowers in varying shapes and sizes.

More Info: en.m.wikipedia.org