Names
Agave americana ssp. protamericana
What you will get
A well rooted plant in a 2ltr pot.
About
Agave americana ssp. protamericana is a succulent with a basal rosette of vicious green-grey leaves that are slightly smaller than the species, and tend to be greener and flatter. it also has teeth that are regularly spaced.
It should be nearly as hardy as the species. It will grow pretty quickly if well fed, and ultimately reach 2m or more in height and spread. Plant in full sun in well drained soil.
Family
Agavaceae
Origin.
North, Central, and South America and the Caribbean Islands.
Care & planting
The most important thing when growing Agaves in the UK is to keep them dry in winter. If you are growing them in pots this is easy. Move them into a green house or shed ect with good light, and do not water them from October till it warms up in the spring. Make sure if you are growing Agaves in pots that you use a good soil based compost and add a third grit for drainage.
If you are wanting to plant your Agave in the garden you have a couple of options. Firstly you can plant the agave (still in its pot) into the ground. The gravel on the top of the pot allows you to lift the plant in its pot in winter. If you want to permanently plant your Agave in the ground, drainage is key - a slope or raised bed is perfect for this. Make sure to add plenty of gravel to the soil before planting, you can dig a hole and fill it with gravel and plant the Agave in the gravel. It is also recommended to top dress Agaves with gravel too, it keeps the leaves off the soil and makes them look their best. This works if they are in pots or in the ground. Most Agaves are amazingly tough plants and they can take cold temperatures, but they must be dry.
Uses
Great as a pot plant or in the ground in milder areas of the UK. They give a very architectural feel to an exotic garden.
