Name
Agave montana
What you will get
You will receive a well rooted plant in a 5ltr pot.
About
Agave montana is a fairly new addition to the Agaves we can try in the UK, it was only discovered in the 1990s and it may be one of the best Agaves for growing in the garden. It naturally grows in the oak and pine forests of Mexico at an altitude of up to 3400m where there are regular frosts and damp mists. It forms a large artichoke like rosette of green leaves that are heavily teethed and end in a large reddish terminal spine. The heavy teeth leave a beautiful imprint on the new leaves.
Family
Agavaceae
Origin.
Tamaulipas Mexico
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.
