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Definition of african lily

african lily

Plural:African lilies
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african lily Lexical Profile

• noun

1

A popular ornamental plant native to southern Africa, characterized by its long, strap-like leaves and tall stalks that bear striking spherical clusters of blue, purple, or white funnel-shaped flowers.

Example

"The gardener planted a border of African lilies to add a vibrant splash of blue to the summer landscape."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for african lily

Word Nuance & Usage

Despite its common name, the African lily is not a true lily (genus Lilium), but rather belongs to the amaryllis family.

• Nearby Words

african fat-tailed gecko
african grey parrot
african helmeted turtle
african lily
african lion
african rock python
african violet

Word Origin & Etymology

The name reflects the plant's native origin in southern Africa and its visual resemblance to true lilies. Its botanical genus, Agapanthus, derives from the Greek words 'agapē' (love) and 'anthos' (flower).

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of African lily. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 12, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/african lily
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