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Cacti & Succulents

My first Agave...!

greenman28 NorCal 7b/8a

14 years ago

Good evening! It's been a fair-weathered weekend in the California foothills!

I was at a friend's house today, and I collected this small pup about ten feet from the main clump.

Even better, I have permission to dig up a considerably larger pup, located a bit further from the parent.

I've posted pics of this same monster before - Agave americana, I assume:

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Comments (16)

jojosplants
14 years ago
Aw! How neat!!
Congratulations on the newest member of your family!

I love the agaves! I have one small one at the moment in a container.. debating more, but my yard doesnt drain very well.

Good luck with your new baby!

Oh, very wet here today! Your rain moved on... :)
JoJo
hadrian
14 years ago
yeah, that looks like Agave americana to me.

congrats on your first agave. i love agaves. especially the dwarf, variegated ones.

Bri.
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Ditto the comments about plantdelights.com. Without exception, all the agaves I ordered from them arrived well packaged and in very good condition. Now, I only hope that I have luck keeping them alive. Regarding cost, they are a bit pricey-especially for S & H. However, given how well the plants were packaged it's arguably worth the cost. Good luck!
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Brad Thank you for additional info, I tried to read about them and read about the spines on FO-76. Some of the info I found on the second one: from Plant Delights Agave nickelsiae is the new...I mean old name for Agave ferdinandi-regis (yes, ferdinandi is spelled correctly). Agave nickelsiae is often lumped by herbarium taxonomists (people who study dead plants) with Agave victoriae-reginae, but Agave nickelsiae can be easily distinguished by more glaucous foliage, larger leaves, and larger terminal black spines. Each tight, slow-growing clump will reach 10" tall x 18" wide. We'll let the taxonomists fight the name battle while we enjoy the plants in our garden. Under favorable cultivation conditions, Agave nickelsiae should flower in 12-15 years with a solitary, upright, 12' stalk of hummingbird-attracting flowers. and from Ruth Bancroft Garden As is too often the case in the plant world, there is much confusion regarding the naming of this plant. It was first named as Agave nickelsiae in 1895, but was re-named as Agave ferdinandi-regis by Agave expert Alwin Berger in 1915. Later authors, notably including Howard Scott Gentry, considered it to be merely a form of Agave victoriae-reginae, not even meriting the rank of a subspecies or variety. Recently, however, a group of Mexican botanists have noted the significant floral differences between the plants, and they have concluded that A. nickelsiae should be recognized as a separate species. Both Agave nickelsiae and Agave victoriae-reginae are notable for their compact rosettes with striking white lines which look as though they had been painted on the surface. However, in A. nickelsiae there are fewer leaves in a rosette, and these tend to be narrower, longer, more splayed, and often with a milky-bluish tinge. A. nickelsiae usually also has a more prominent black spine at the tip of the leaf. In both species, the leaves sometimes have a double tip or even a triple tip. Jeff, hope you are OK...the plants are really appreciated. Rina
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Hoovb, perhaps it's the scale of that plant that is variegated was left with much desire on the market.. The seller claim it's a 20" plant, that's about 1 foot. I never saw or understood the value in vairegated Agaves anyway. But I really do love those with almost completely albino leaves markings.. Jeff, I love the first plant, and your friend's mother painting. Very pretty..
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Message me with your address and I can put you on the list. First picture is a old Agave I had for a long time and unknown ID. Called 'Desert Rose'. I think it is A. Perryi or maybe A. potatorum?? I think they can take zone 8 with protection but not sure. A. Americana 'mediopicta alba' I only have two of and they are extremely slow growers and are pups from the big one I had that rotted. (keeping) The three smaller ones with threads all over them are Agave Schidigera shira ito oh no ohi. Purchased them on Ebay July 31, 2015. Was very small and slow growing. (keeping) Other one is A. lophantha 'Splendas' with the two pups. Might have one of A. lopantha quadricolor. Not sure if it has any pups around it.
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greenman28 NorCal 7b/8a
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks, JoJo and Bri! Most appreciated!

JoJo, the weather is damp again today...and windy!
There might be more on the way...

Bri, I might have to collect a few varieties, as long as they're hardy in my area.
These Agaves are growing on a rocky ridge-top at about 2500' elevation.

More pics when I dig a larger pup!

Josh
ashley_plant_addict
14 years ago
Awesome find Josh! Its always nice to share plants among friends :)

JoJo, I'm in the same boat, his rain has moved on to our yards now...haha. Hopefully this rain will fade away by tomorrow!

Ashley
dav4vid
14 years ago
Hey watch out, these plants can get BIG!
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birdsnblooms
14 years ago
Josh, your friends Agave is beautiful. It was nice he/she gave you a pup..I truely don't think it matters much, since the mom is huge..lol.

David, yours is the largest Agave I'd ever seen..WOW.
It's amazing how fast they grow in CA..
Do either of you know the ages of these Agaves?

Here's a few of mine, although the pics were taken a couple years ago..some are 15 yrs old..lol..I'm almost embarrassed posting them..lol..

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Some are 10-15 yrs old..lol..look like mini's especially compared to your guys. Toni
dav4vid
14 years ago
Here's another one I didn't grow...
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stanofh 10a Hayward,Ca S.F. bay area
14 years ago
Ooeee,that looks like a in habitat photo of a huge Agave. Pines and rocks included.
greenman28 NorCal 7b/8a
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks, Stan! There are free-roaming Agaves all over this section of the property.
Tons of cool rock-piles, too. This particular Agave is the largest, however.

David, this Agave is about seven feet tall...just a baby, eh? ;)
But seriously, these Agaves have always made me think of giant squid...
must be the patterned leaves...

Here's a shot of the "backside"
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A smaller clump by the driveway:
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Josh
greenman28 NorCal 7b/8a
Original Author
14 years ago
Sorry, Toni, nearly forgot your question!

I have no idea how old these are...

Nice pics!

Josh
Sandra Tran
14 years ago
Very nice pics everyone! Here are my babies.

Blue Agave (tequila maker!)

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I think these are agaves too... not sure but I just love those spots on the leaves.

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On second flower stalk...

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Sandra
cactusjordi
14 years ago
JoJo,

".. debating more, but my yard doesnt drain very well." That shouldn't be a problem for most Agaves!

Jordi
cactusmcharris, interior BC Z4/5
14 years ago
Sandra,

Those last two are Aloes.
tugbrethil
14 years ago
Sandra, those four spiky babies are aloes.

Kevin : )
Sandra Tran
14 years ago
Oh, right... lol Thanks!

Sandra
greenman28 NorCal 7b/8a
Original Author
14 years ago
I was able to dig up a second, larger Agave earlier in the week. Today, I washed off the roots, trimmed them a bit, and potted the Agave in some bark, perlite, pumice, and gravel (with Osmocote). The pot is unglazed on the inside, with four drainage holes. I'll probably half-bury this in the yard somewhere.
On with the pics:

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Josh

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