27 Jan 2026

Shower Thought: Why are agapanthus everywhere?

From Nights, 8:45 pm on 27 January 2026

Have you ever been standing in the shower, when suddenly the noise in your brain clears and, in its place, appears the perfect thought?

That's a Shower Thought. Each Tuesday, here on Nights, we're aiming to answer those unshakable questions lurking in the back of your mind.

Tonight, we're talking agapanthus, also known as Lily of the Nile, and how their admittedly lovely flowers came to be blooming everywhere across the country.

To help us unpack Nights speaks to Murray Dawson - a botanist at Manaaki Whenua  Landcare Research who has spent years breeding low‑fertility and sterile versions of agapanthus to try to keep their beauty without the weedy spread.

Agapanthus

Agapanthus Photo: supplied