Gorgeous new agaves for my collection
Mild temperatures this week lured me to the nurseries, where I told myself I was merely browsing. But two beautiful agaves tempted me, and I ended up bringing them home. I hope they will prove winter-hardy here (online info indicates they will), but just to be safe I am protecting them, unplanted, for the remainder of the winter.
This cute little guy is Agave parryi ‘Cream Spike.’ A small specimen, it should reach only about a foot in height and width. As you can see it freely produces pups. I plan to tuck a few into my cinderblock-wall planter.
My other new baby is Agave weberi ‘Arizona Star.’ It will grow quite large for a small garden: about 5 feet wide and up to 6 feet tall. Aside from its lovely blue-green leaves with moonlight yellow stripes, another nice feature is the lack of spines along the leaves, making it significantly easier to garden around.
I think I will find a spot in the hillside garden for this beauty. Imagine it near the blue Arizona cypress! Maybe I’ll keep it in a pot for a while—turquoise?
Speaking of succulents, I’m enjoying the cold-stressed orange tips on the Aloe saponaria. Its white spots really stand out now too.
Sadly, my ‘Sticks on Fire’ euphorbia is not coloring up as it should in winter. I know this plant thrives on neglect (though it must be protected from freezes), but I believe I need to repot it after leaving it for three years in the same tiny pot. Maybe prune it back a little too? Wearing protective gloves and eye protection, of course; I know about the irritating white sap.
All material © 2006-2011 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
What beauties. I would love to have more of the variegated variety but they will have to be pretty hardy to survive over here. Otherwise it’s pot life for them.
It’s so much colder at your place, Jenny. Have you tried the variegated squid agave (A. bracteosa ‘Monterrey Frost’)? Since it likes a little shade, maybe you could keep it in a more protected location and it would survive the winter. —Pam
My sticks on fire has never been anything but green, a very nice green. Though I must say it has thrived, being able to live through our summers and tolerate the neglect it is shown in the den over the winter. Do you have tips on getting it to color up?
Mine used to have better winter color, Les, although it was never amazing. I believe that cool temperatures and full sun are best for getting that rosy color. —Pam
Enjoyed your new ‘babies’. I too wish I could grow them here, they are such architectural plants. I do have many potted ones though. In fact the aloes are very promiscuous and I have sent babies all over Niagara county. Plus, we grow them in the greenhouse but I never know the varieties. They are always given to us and we just propagate them.
Those aloes do get around, don’t they? I’m forever pulling up pups and giving them away too. —Pam
Pam, I grew that euphorbia indoors for years as a houseplant – never turned red, but I was glad to have its funky form, despite the irritating sap. Very jealous that you can indulge in all those fab agaves – I’ve got one ‘Silver Surfer’ in a pot, now hiding out in the dining room 🙂
‘Silver Surfer’ is a nice one! I’m happy to be able to indulge in agaves, but believe me, there are many plants you can grow up north that I’d love to be able to indulge in also. —Pam
Those are nice agaves….I have a small Century plant that was given to me and I haven’t a clue where to plant it…any suggestions?
It’ll get big, Darla, but it may take a while. I tend to put small agaves in pots to get them started and up to a decent size before putting them in the ground. An agave in a pot makes a great focal point for a sunny patio or garden bed. Just make sure the drainage is excellent and the soil is not too rich. —Pam
You were just browsing? Of course, we all are just browsing at the nurseries. That just means we are buying less than six or so plants. I like the agaves more ever since I discovered that Hostas are in the same botanical family… unless, of course, the botanists changed their minds again. Looks like you got too beauties there.
I’m so glad you’re coming around to an agave appreciation, Carol! After all, they are known as woody lilies, and who doesn’t like a lily? —Pam
Should have guessed yesterday, that you ALREADY went plant shopping. I need to get plant editing – seeing more and more agave pups under a tree awaiting a new home. And weeds…
Erm, yes, I did already hit the nurseries last week. I am hoping my recent purchases will hold me until spring. —Pam
Pam, I love Cream Spike Agave. I have it in my garden, and regularly harvest the babies and pot them up. It’s adorable in a spiky kind of way!
I’m looking forward to having lots of ‘Cream Spike’ babies in the future. It is definitely adorable. —Pam
Great new additions to your garden. I think a turquoise pot would be fab. Glad you are gardening. It won’t be long here. I keep telling myself that and find solace in the blogs of those in warmer climates.
No, it won’t be long. The days are flying by, and it’s already nearly February. Hang in there, Layanee. —Pam
Those are beautiful! I absolutely love agaves though I have to pick and choose which ones will grow in my zone. I guess you spend a lot of time in heavy gear to do your garden maintenance with all the plants listed here, though!
Not really, Eliza, though perhaps I should. I just move v-e-r-y carefully around my spiky plants. —Pam
Those are nice new additions!
Thanks! —Pam
Every time I see an agave I think of you, across the miles, Pam. These plants are just soooo beautiful, but only indoors for us.
I’m glad to have an iconic plant, Jodi. For you of course it is the blue poppies. —Pam
Your new plants are really beautiful. I love the ‘Aloe saponaria’. Its spots really pop out. Sorry to hear about your ‘Sticks on Fire’ :~(
Thanks for your comment, Jewel. Yes, those aloe spots are eye-catching. —Pam
Love the composition of that second shot Pam. Yes, it’s happening…we’re all starting to get that nursery itch!! I just love the thrill of it! Enjoyed seeing you yesterday.
You too, Cat! It was fun comparing shrub notes. —Pam
Pam,
I have Creme Spike agave and keep it in a stock tank planter and have found it needs shelter from afternoon sun or else it burns, fyi. It is a beauty though!
-Curtis
You make a good point, Curtis. I’ve got nothing but part shade, so I’m set. 🙂 —Pam
Ooooh, where did you get your Arizona Star agave? It is now my mission in life to procure one for my front yard.
They have some at Great Outdoors nursery, Lori. They’re pricey but pretty good-sized. —Pam
The stripped agave will be quite the beauty if it grows any where near the size it should. Wow. Love the stripes. The snow has just melted here. I can’t find much that is green right now. It is fun watching how you are adding to your garden now.
I like the Cream Spike. The heavy pupping is a great thing for more large scale planting. How can resist buying plants this time of year. I can’t.
These look great! In the first photo, I’m intrigued by the image behind the agave. Is that a shallow tray with succulents? I am thinking of doing that this year, but I always worry they won’t last the winter indoors. What do you think?
Kate, that’s a chip-and-dip bowl that I’ve planted with succulents (after drilling drainage holes in the bottom). I leave mine outside all winter except during our occasional freezes, but the summertime is when it suffers here in Austin unless it gets midday and afternoon shade. But you know what? It’s totally worth replacing a few succulents every so often because it is so low-maintenance most of the year. —Pam
Those are nice succulents. I particularly like the Aloe with its’ vivid colors. It is sleeting here, so all my plants are cold stressed right now. Hope your plants do okay in the freeze.