Spiky plant love
Yes, I went back to the nursery to pick up this beautiful new agave for my collection, ‘Royal Spine’ (not hardy here, folks, so it’ll have to be brought indoors during freezes). I picked the pot to match the blood-red thorns.
What else is looking beautiful and spiky in the garden this week? ‘Bloodspot’ mangave is elegant in the raised bed, with freckled, blue-green leaves.
Behind the succulent wall, a squid agave (A. bracteosa) and ‘Macho Mocha’ mangave stretch their arms amid a spreading sea of silver ponyfoot (Dichondra argentea).
Pretty Agave lophantha ‘Quadricolor’
Front, left to right: Queen Victoria agave (A. victoriae-reginae), Agave americana mediopicta ‘Alba,’ Agave lophantha ‘Quadricolor,’ Agave desmettiana ‘Variegata. Back, left to right: Softleaf yucca (Y. recurvifolia) and ‘Whale’s Tongue agave (A. ovatifolia).
A spiky-soft vignette along the back of the house. In the stock-tank container: Agave weberi ‘Arizona Star,’ Yucca rostrata ‘Sapphire Skies,’ and ‘Oriental Limelight’ artemisia. (The artemisia is extremely aggressive, but our summer heat and drought may work to keep it in check; mine died back last summer and didn’t show itself again until the fall. But be wary about setting it loose in the garden.) To the right is Yucca filamentosa ‘Bright Edge.’ And in the background: ‘Alphonse Karr’ bamboo, variegated Agave americana, and Mexican feathergrass (Nassella tenuissima).
Gopher plant (Euphorbia rigida) in bloom and ‘Color Guard’ yucca in the front garden, with rosemary, bamboo muhly, and silver Mediterranean fan palm in the background.
Bloom spikes are soaring skyward from a trio of speckled Aloe maculata (aka Aloe saponaria).
“Feed me, Seymour!”
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All material © 2006-2012 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
Guess what I bought at Cistus on Saturday? Yep, an A. ‘Royal Spine’…I had no memory of the name from your earlier post, it wasn’t until right now that it clicked. I just saw it and knew that I had to have it! So sexy! Mine is a lot smaller than yours. Here’s hoping we’ll have a warm spring and summer and it will grow grow grow!
It IS sexy. I’m sure it looks great in your garden. I actually had to root-prune mine to get it into the container I’d bought, but I’d prefer to keep it small since I’ll be hauling it in and out in the winter. —Pam
I would love to have a Whale Tongue agave in my garden. Of course, I will have to move to Austin. gail
Do it, Gail! 🙂 —Pam
What a spiky collection you have and so beautifully displayed. Love the new addition.
Thanks, Jenny. I like your new cacti you’ve added to your collection as well. —Pam
I am in love with your spiky plants! What gorgeous shape and colors!
Aren’t they fun? Such beautiful plants in form and color. —Pam
Wow, looking good, Pam. You have a great eye for collecting sharp pointy objects. I’m pretty sure you’ve convinced me I need a Gopher Plant, it’s such a cutie!
You do indeed, Robin. I can just see a gopher plant mingling with your perennials in your stop-sign bed. —Pam
There are more spikes in your garden than at a college volleyball game. The players are all as beautiful too.
What a great analogy, Lisa. I’m just glad my agaves aren’t as tall as the average college volleyball player. I’d be overwhelmed! —Pam
That ‘Royal Spine’ is a stunner…especially in that pot, good choice! Of course, Moby is still my fave…such a handsome gent 😉
Thanks, Scott. If Moby weren’t so sure of himself, he’d be blushing. —Pam
You have a very impressive collection of all things spiky and spiny. I recently bought a bronze dyckia to add to my growing collection. I loved the way it looked, but my word, that plant stabs and jabs me coming and going. Handle with care.
Oh yes, a dyckia has some serious thornage. So pretty though. —Pam
I love the silver ponyfoot as a groundcover under your spiky things. The new one Royal Spine is gorgeous of course, but I’ve passed up Quadricolor so many times — always too pricy here, so that’s where my spiky envy falls. And that’s a really good size Queen Victoria too considering how slow they grow. Good spiky stuff, Pam!
Thanks, Denise. I’ve probably been growing that ‘Queen Victoria’ since 1998 or so. It is my oldest agave, I believe. —Pam
That’s a really fabulous new pot and Agave! Love it!
Thanks, Christine. I’m loving my new spiky baby. —Pam
Very beautiful!
I especially like the Royal Spine in the red pot!
And the one with pink on the leaves – gorgeous!
Happy Gardening!
Lea
Lea’s Menagerie
Thanks, Lea. I appreciate your stopping by. —Pam
Royal Spine in the red pot~BEAUTIMOUS!
Not everyone finds spiny plants to be beautimous, Cheryl, so special thanks for your comment. 😉 —Pam
Gorgeous and striking plants!
Does the Mediterranean fan palm handle full sun to your knowledge?
(Looking for a bushy, sun-loving palm).
Always enjoy your gardens and photography.
Kim in Cedar Park
Hi, Kim. Yes, it sure does, and probably prefers full sun. I’m trying mine in part shade after seeing one in Scott and Lauren Ogden’s live-oak-shaded garden. They said it could take some shade as well, and it’s so beautiful I had to try it. —Pam
Hi! First visit to your blog! Your photos are beautiful and I love how you have shown so many vignettes. Gives me good ideas of what could be put together with agaves or yuccas. I would like to try some this year. I love the Whale Tongue Agave and ‘Quadricolor.’
Thanks for visiting, Andrea! Those two are beauties for sure but would probably be cold tender in your Idaho garden. Of course I grow plenty of cold-tender agaves in pots myself. In the ground you might try Agave parryi and Agave havardiana. —Pam