My Burgeoning xMangave Collection

I don't collect many things other than plants.  Well, and garden books.  Once I find myself under the spell of a particular plant, I tend to gravitate to others in the same genus.  That's how I ended up with collections of Leucadendrons, and Grevilleas, and Agaves.  Mangaves, properly referred to a xMangaves as they're intergeneric hybrids of Agaves and Manfreda, are a relatively recent fixation.  Collecting them hasn't been easy as the plants are rarely found in garden centers, as least in my area.  'Bloodspot', a hybrid of Agave macroacantha and Manfreda maculosa, was the first one I purchased.  I picked it up 4 years ago.  This one is still the most commonly variety available in my area.  However, within the past year, I've managed to acquire 9 other cultivars, most obtained by mail.  With a birthday present of 6 plants from Plant Delights, my husband increased my total collection from 8 to 14 plants.

I recently got all my new plants in the ground so I thought it was a good time to document my newest plant collection in a post.  The largest group have found a home in the succulent bed in front of our garage.

In retrospect, I planted this bed more sparsely than I'd like, using too many small succulents.  As many of the Mangaves will develop some girth in time, I'm hoping their addition will go a long way to filling in the space.

Clockwise from the upper left: 1)'Bad Hair Day', perhaps my favorite, a hybrid of Agave geminiflora, A. nizandensis, and Manfreda maculosa 2) 'Jaguar'(2), part of my b-day haul, a hybrid of an unidentified Agave and Manfreda guttata 3) 'Kaleidoscope' (2), a prolific pupper, a sport of Mangave 'Jaguar' 4) 'Snow Leopard' (2), also part of my b-day present, another sport of Mangave 'Jaguar'

Manfreda maculosa, a parent of many of the xMangaves, also occupies a pot in this area

There's a second group of xMangaves in the dry garden area on the north side of the house.

I have plans to fill in the gaps between the 5 Mangaves here with other succulents

Clockwise from the upper left: 1) 'Bloodspot', one of the smaller Mangaves, a hybrid of Agave macroacantha and Manfreda maculosa 2) 'Lavender Lady', a hybrid of Mangave 'Bloodspot' and Agave attenuata 3) 'Purple People Eater' (2), from my b-day collection, a hybrid of Agave pablocarrilloi, A. macroacantha, and Manfreda 4) 'Silver Fox', another pupper, a hybrid of Agave gypsophila, A. macroacantha, and Manfreda

A few others are scattered about the garden at the moment.

From left to right: 1)'Blazing Saddles', a Christmas gift from a friend, currently in a pot, a hybrid of xMangave 'Bloodspot' and a noID Agave 2) Another 'Kaleidoscope', this one from a benefactor who wished to remain unidentified, on my front slope 3) 'Spotty Dotty' in my bromeliad bed, a hybrid of Agave gypsophila, A. boviconuta, and Manfreda

Since most of the plants arrived in small nursery pots within the past year, they're all still relatively small but several of them are already producing pups so I hope my collection will grow in size over the next few years.  And, hopefully, local garden centers will begin to offer a broader range of choices as well.

What plants are grabbing your attention at the moment?


All material © 2012-2019 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party