Crazy about Mangave
Stush2049 Pitts. PA, zone 6
last year
last modified: last year
Well I guess I can't use Mad about Mangave. Been taken.
Mangave are a cross between Agave and Manfreda. Since then Manfreda has been reclassified as Agave so their hybrid would now be just Agave but I accept the Mangave ID instead.
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Comments (16)
Stush2049 Pitts. PA, zone 6
last yearThey are much faster growers then Agave and much more colorful along with being softer and less spinner. unfortunately deer love to eat them. Agave being too spiny. The Texas Tuberose, Polianthes tuberosa are also reclassified as Agave amica and it too has hybridized with Agave.
Hansara 'Jumping Jacks' cultivar crosses Manfreda, Agave, and Polianthes (tuberosa).
My pot full of Agave amica is starting to bloom again for this year. (they bloom every year). The flower is so close to our common Hosta and they are close cousins that I though I might as well cross pollinate the flowers and see what I come up with.
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HAVE: Mangave 'Bloodspot' for Mangave 'Macho Mocha'
Comments (0)Hi everybody, I have a small Mangave 'Bloodspot' available to trade. I'm looking for a Mangave 'Macho Mocha' of comparable size. This one is about 3 1/2 inches across. I've been keeping it in the shade so the spots aren't showing as much, but they'll come out with brighter light....See Morex Mangave 'Macho Mocha'
Comments (5)Wanda, i wonder if you have something attacking this at the roots? I only found it temperamental because I was growing it in 5 gallon containers in not enough sun, and it was being constantly attacked by snails in my front yard. Once I got them into the ground they were fine. I have planted them in both well drained soil and heavier clays, and all are receiving drip or overhead spray irrigation, and doing equally well. The one thing to keep in mind is that the leaves are quite fragile to mechanical damage, so plant them where they won't get brushed by a dragged hose or rambunctious large pets, as the leaves tear quite easily. I don't think it is a question of not liking the San Jose climate, try giving it a bit more irrigation and fertilizer. I also find it does well for me in cooler conditions, and even less than full day sun, but colors up the best with all day full sun. I've found that they seem to really take off once they have established new roots into the ground, and I have some that are now almost 3 feet across by 2 foot tall, with lots of pups at the base. I look forward to seeing this bloom for the first time, maybe in 2008?...See MoreMacho Mocha Mangave recovery
Comments (7)I've had squirrels nibble on echeverias, but so far not on the Mangave macho mochas. In the front yard the deer try them, but don't seem to like them much as they don't a lot of damage. I guess in our city neighborhood they find other plants more to their liking than they do at Mara's country place. But even if a few leaves are eaten MMMs are very forgiving plants as Lisa says and will soon grow more leaves. They don't seem particular about soil. They've grown well for me where ever and however they are planted. Wishing you the best with them. They are a beautiful plant any time of the year here in San Antonio and bloom nicely in the spring. I have one plant that has divided over and over in a very large pot and has six or seven bloom stalks. I think I've treated it too well by watering and fertilizing it. They are really prettier, I think, when grown lean in the ground so they just get large and don't divide. They also have better color when stressed. Once they they bloom they divide and then you have multiple plants which have less of a distinctive profile. P.S. MMM hasn't been damaged by cold weather in several years. I cover it when a hard freeze is predicted, not for fear of it dying, but just trying to protect the pretty maroon freckled winter foliage. Sometimes damage to the tips occurs. It's removed. New leaves grow quickly...See MoreMangave or Switchgrass in place of Big Muhly?
Comments (20)Lindheimerri Muhly does very well for me, even in difficult spots of dry clay & it tolerates quite a bit of shade up here in OKC. I grow them in dry spots because otherwise they get too huge. Mine look really good growing in an area infested with tree roots on the high end of my property but I did give them a good soak twice this summer. Switchgrass on the other hand needs quite a bit more water and looks better with more sun, it tends to be stunted with lots of browning leaves in in dry years and doesn't color up here like it does in other parts of the country where summers are less intense, mine usually just turns from green to brown. I've never seen any red on the varieties that are supposed to turn red. I read the same thing happens to the guy on the Plano Texas Prairie blog, his tend to just go brown in fall. Switchgrass likes water. The best looking is 'Northwind' & I ordered several more to do a mass planting. My 'Heavy Metal' ones didn't do as well and are terribly dry looking but tall. Big Bluestem needs a lot more water than L. Muhly to grow good, at least the younger plants do, otherwise they get lots of brown leaves in summer. I have them planted with 'Northwind' switchgrass in my lowest spot where its easy to soak and where the water drains down when it rains. I watered them when it was very dry. The single "Red October' Big Bluestem I have growing on the hot, full sun, dry hell strip will be moved come spring (poor thing). I've got some very tall types of Little Bluestem that do great there and which are almost as tall as me but Big Blue suffered badly this year. In a friendlier spot, those Little BS would flop but as it is, they are are tall, straight and a deep rich mahogany color after being gorgeous light blue all summer. There is a gas station here that has the plain non-named local genotype of Big Bluestem planted in mass. All of them look dried up, deadish and terrible in this drought summer we had here but its been extremely dry since spring. The best muhly grass for areas getting lots of shade time but at least 3 hours of morning or afternoon sun is Pine Muhly and the much bigger Deer Muhly (if you have a really big space). They seem to be impervious to drought no matter how dry it is, I read they thrive on drought and maybe thats true. Pink Flamingo Muhly grass down on the dry hell strip is a giant. Don't fall for that "fits in a narrow space" malarky. Its the biggest grass I have....See MoreStush2049 Pitts. PA, zone 6
last yearStush2049 Pitts. PA, zone 6
last yearlast modified: last yearKeeping this alive! Some new additions to the family. They will double their size before winter bring in. Fast Growers.
Stush2049 Pitts. PA, zone 6
last yearStush2049 Pitts. PA, zone 6
last yearlast modified: last yearMangaves after all are Agave. So here's my favorite ones;
Queen of White Thread.
These were selling for a great deal so I purchased several and gave to friends.
This was a rare find frm China. A little expensive but worth it.
Stush2049 Pitts. PA, zone 6 thanked lgteacherStush2049 Pitts. PA, zone 6
last yearlgteacher
last yearMangave inkblot - zone 10a. It's been in the ground a few years and I've started new plants from pups. This is a photo taken a few years ago when it was newly planted.
Stush2049 Pitts. PA, zone 6 thanked lgteacherStush2049 Pitts. PA, zone 6
last yearlast modified: last yearI'm waiting for the 'Praying Hands' mangave to come out with a variegated cultivar. Hopefully looking as good as Agave 'Snow Glow', which has a similar growth pattern.
Both plants are about a year old.
Stush2049 Pitts. PA, zone 6
last year
wantonamara Z8 CenTex
last yearlast modified: last yearStush2049 Pitts. PA, zone 6 thanked wantonamara Z8 CenTexStush2049 Pitts. PA, zone 6
last yearwantonamara Z8 CenTex
last year
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Meyermike(Zone 6a Ma.)