plural agapanthus also agapanthuses
: any of several African plants (genus Agapanthus) of the amaryllis family cultivated for their umbels of showy blue, purple, or white flowers

Examples of agapanthus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Remove the Asiatic jasmine from the agapanthus and prune it back to its own area of the landscape. Tom MacCubbin, orlandosentinel.com, 23 Nov. 2019 Add succulents for firescaping (landscaping for fire prevention), and plant summer-blooming bulbs like agapanthus. Heather Arndt Anderson, Sunset Magazine, 16 Mar. 2020

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin, genus name, probably borrowed from Greek agápē "love, affection" + ánthos "flower" — more at agape entry 2, anthology

Note: The genus name was introduced by Charles Louis L'Hériter de Brutelle in Sertum Anglicum, seu Plantae Rariores quae in Hortis juxta Londinum, Imprimis in Horto Regio Kewensis excoluntur, ab anno 1786 ad annum 1787 observatae (Paris, 1788; actually published in parts, 1789-93), p. 10. L'Héritier provides no explanation for the name.

First Known Use

circa 1789, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of agapanthus was circa 1789

Dictionary Entries Near agapanthus

Cite this Entry

“Agapanthus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/agapanthus. Accessed 19 Feb. 2025.

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