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Searching For Hardy Agave
Searching For Hardy Agave
The leaf rosettes flush red as they prepare to flower and die
Searching for
hardy Agave
Informed by three maybe the rule, not the exception.
E
XOTIC OR SUBTROPICAL
gardening style is currently So, what then of our tree ferns
enjoying something of a visits to the mountain and bananas?
renaissance. Certainly, with climate-
change models predicting milder
woodlands of Mexico Confronting drought
winters and hotter summers this and cultivation Necessity has already forced me to
previously marginalised aspect of confront this problem. A devotee of
gardening has suddenly grown up experience this style of gardening for over 20
and become appropriately respectable. in eastern England, years, I was first seduced, like many
But scientists warn us that rainfall initiates, by large jungly leaves. I live
patterns are set to change with little PAUL SPRACKLIN in coastal Essex where, in an average
falling during the very period our year, we can expect just 50cm of
gardens need it the most. Hosepipe
reports on agaves with rainfall. Big leaves equals big water
restrictions become a real possibility; hardiness potential bills, not to mention the time and
effort involved in supplying it to the here, or, indeed, in other areas of Mexico. I cobbled together the
plants. I started seeking out plants England? A little research soon throws itinerary for a trip and in November
that are suited to arid growing up some interesting data. Plants from 2004, together with friend and
conditions yet fulfil my need to grow the central US deserts in particular nurseryman Toby Shobbrook,
dramatic plants. And I found show immense cold tolerance: figures headed for the mountains of
succulents. Imposing succulents northeast Mexico. The first, as it
that, grown together, still paint an turned out, of three such trips.
exotic picture yet outlive any hose A few kilometres southwest of
ban. Succulents such as yuccas, Ciudad Victoria in the state of
dasylirions, nolinas…. and agaves. Tamaulipas, just off highway 101, is
located the small town of La Peña,
Familiar species our rendezvous point with Richard
So far, so good. But ask succulent and from where we took a good dirt
plant collectors which agaves are road into the mountains. Rapidly
most suited to growing outside and, swallowing altitude, we left behind
in reply, you are most likely hear the yuccas and dasylirions of the
‘That’s easy. None’. What little semi-desert plains to above 2,300m
precedent exists for growing agaves where the habitat changed fairly
outdoors is mainly found in the abruptly to a forest of pines, dwarf
milder areas of southwest England. oaks and arbutus.
Wander around some of the Cornish It was here that we encountered
seaside towns and you will see the the first of two woodland Agave
Paul Spracklin
Paul Spracklin
Paul Spracklin
Propagation
Most Agave species can be propagat-
ed from the copious plantlets
produced on underground runners.
These should be detached, allowed
to dry out for a few days, potted into
gritty compost and then grown on.
A few species produce bulbils on
their inflorescences – a ready and
quick method of propagating.
All species can be raised easily
from fresh seed. Indeed, some can
only be grown from seed: A. montana,
for example, does not usually
produce suckers except to a limited
Greg Starr