Question
QUESTION: I have a agapanthus africanus ( peter pan) plant i got it in the garden center i was told its a perinial.will it die out side in winter ,live in maryland.also i was interested in growing new plants from the seeds ,I was sure how til i saw the flowers fall off and little pod like thingies grow where the flower was.opened it a was amazed to see little seeds inside,that were white.i planted them in some potting soil 3 weeks ago but nothing happened,I'm sure you will know what i did wrong and how to make new plants. i feel so foolish ,I've loved plants and have successfully grown healthy plants for years but I was dumbfounded when it came to this beautiful plant.what to do to grow new ones and keep the one i have healthy through the winter.      thanks    Linda

ANSWER: Hi Linda,
Thanx for your question. Learning about things can often be a trial-and-error sort of thing.  When we don't know something, we ask and there is no harm in trying so I hope you won't feel foolish.  The structures you described as pod-like-thingies are just that...seed pods.  Let them dry out and turn brown.  They will eventually start to crack open and have black seeds inside.  Here are some pictures from Google Images of agapanthus seed pods.

http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&q=agapanthus+seeds&btnG=Search+Images&gbv=

If I remember correctly, the seeds are black or dark brown and flat.  I've grown them before.  Just barely cover with soil.  Keep moist but not soggy and they come up in a couple weeks.  

Most agapanthus are not hardy in zones cooler than Zone 7 but there is one hybrid I have heard of that will survive Zone 6 winters with protection.  Agapanthus is used a lot in Zone 8 for landscaping.  I see it used a lot in the Fresno, California area and other parts of Southern California and in Florida.

I hope this helps.
Tom

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: thanks it helped but to my suprise when i clicked on the link i found out that these plants are poisionous the sap of the leaves and the rootsis that true.i planed on having some inside as well as outside my home but I have a golden pup and a curious cat so tell me what you know about this .not worth my pets health.   linda

Answer
Hi Linda,
Thanx for your question.  If you have pets that like to sample and/or chew on everything, agapanthus is listed as mildly toxic.

Here's a link from U.C. Davis.

http://www.plantsciences.ucdavis.edu/ce/king/PoisPlant/Tox-COM.htm

I hope this helps.
Tom