Designing with SucculentsHow to incorporate succulents and cacti into your garden design
graphics & Sol ™ mangaves . pic by : Proven Winners
If you garden in the desert Southwest , you are probably familiar with theagave plant life , a drouth - tolerant succulent admire for its dramatic architectural form . But you may not know about the latest succulent to sway the horticultural humans — one that mix the shape and habit ofAgavewith the unique color ofManfreda , resulting in an intergeneric crossbreed that boasts the good quality of both .
Mangave(pronounced human race - GAH - vay ) is a sporty newcomer that come in an amazing array of colouring , sizes , and growth habits , thanks to its hybrid stock . Compared to plants in theAgavespecies , Mangavegrow faster , can tolerate higher storey of wet , and have softer , less prickly spines that make for gentle handling . Many varieties also skylark unique foliage features not unremarkably seen onAgave , such as attractive spotted radiation pattern and wavy edges .
Although they are tender perennials , Mangavecan be grown as annuals in cold climates or winter indoors as houseplant . Their bluff , proportionate form makes them ideal for manipulation as striking stand - alone plants in containers and garden beds . Plus , they ’re deer and rabbit resistive , drouth kind , and nearly sustainment free .
On this page : Basics|Planting|Care|Varieties|Frequently Asked dubiousness
BASICS
Botanical name:
xMangave
Common names:
Mangave
Plant type:
Tender perennial ( normally grown as an yearly )
Zones:
9 - 11 for most form , with some hardy to zone 7
Exposure:
Full Lord’s Day
Height/spread:
6 to 24 inches tall and 8 to 42 in wide , count on the assortment
Foliage color and characteristics:
Arranged in rosettes , the leave-taking may be flat , wavy or curled , with an bowed or just habit . foliation color start the gamut from greenish to Ag to lovely purple , ruby , and variegated physique , often with outstanding stripe or speckles .
Special attributes:
' Lavender Lady ' mangave . Photo by : Proven Winners .
HOW TO PLANT MANGAVE
When to plant:
In spring , after the peril of frost has authorise . AlthoughMangavecan tolerate a scant frost , they prefer temperature that are systematically above 60 degrees F.
Where to plant:
For the most vivacious leaf color and espial , plant in an surface area that receives full sunlight ( at least 6 hours daily ) . At low light levels , the color will fade but you’re able to bushel it by impress your plant to a bright , sunlit localization .
Growing in containers:
Because of their diverseness in shape and class , mangaves are well - suited for terrace containers of all sizes and even hanging basketball hoop , either alone or in combining with other succulent and annuals with standardized moisture and picture requisite .
When plant mangave alone in a container , use a well - run out soilless potting mixture , such as a succulent and cactus admixture , and a container just more or less wider than the breadth of the plant ’s rosette . verify the pot has plenty of drain holes to prevent soggy soil .
Pro Tip
" One of my favorite plants for pots is mangave ! The structure pay the most interesting look to pots . And , if you combine it with a spiller , likeDichondra’Silver Falls ' or tag ivy , it ’s a fantastic combination ! Mangave can take more water than other succulent flora , so it ’s perfect in combinations that need more logical watering . " — Janey , ofDig , Plant , Water , repetition
MANGAVE CARE
Watering:
One of the great attribute of the mangave plant is a permissiveness for more water than other succulents ( although extremely wet condition should be void ) . Mangaves are drought resistant once established , but young plants will appreciate tearing during dry spells . Fun fact : Regularly water a mangave really makes it get faster ! If you ’re well-chosen with the sizing of your mangave and want to slow its growth , merely water it more sparingly . This give way you the ability to order the size of your plant and keep it in proportionality to its container .
Fertilizing:
During the participating growing time of year ( from springiness through early fall ) give a fertilizer formulated for succulents , follow the dose instruction on the package . Mangaves are not lowering tributary and wo n’t benefit from overfertilizing . Withhold feeding during the wintertime months .
Pruning:
This low - maintenance plant need no pruning or shaping to maintain its visual aspect . However , you should remove any browning or damaged leaf by cutting it off near the radical of the folio .
Pests and diseases:
Because of their slurred , spiny farewell , mangaves are rarely bothered by insect plague or hungry critter like cervid and rabbits . However , they can develop source rot if let to sit too long in overly cockeyed soil .
MANGAVE VARIETIES
pic by : Proven succeeder
Art & Sol ™ ' Bad Hair Day '
Zones:7 - 11Height and spread:8 to 10 inches tall , 18 to 20 inches wide
thin lime hydrate - green leave of absence with light blush - bolshy speckling graciously arc from the center to produce a cascade down mound everlasting for containers and hang handbasket . More cold dauntless than other mangaves .
Art & Sol ™ ' view a undulation '
Zones:9 - 11Height and spread:8 to 10 inches grandiloquent , 18 to 20 inches wide
Silvery drab - green leaves with margins that kink upwards are reminiscent of sea waves . Finely toothed bound and heavy maroon espy add further pursuit . Because of its upright wont , this works looks as attractive viewed from the side as it does from the top .
Art & Sol ™ ' Lavender Lady '
Zones:9 - 10Height and spread:8 to 10 inch marvelous , 12 to 16 in wide
Thick , swart majestic leaves arrange in a solitary rosette clear this an excellent outdoor stage - alone specimen in container planting and in the landscape . humble white spines and insidious majestic spotting accentuate its knockout .
prowess & Sol ™ ' Night Owl '
Zones:9 - 11Height and spread:6 to 8 inch tall , 16 to 18 inch broad
A spectacular blend of nearly shameful leaves accented by heavy dismal spotting . The wide leaves lightly undulate to add together proportion and a sensation of motion . Plant in full sunlight for the deepest leafage coloring .
Art & Sol ™ ' Thunderbird '
Zones:9 - 11Height and spread:8 to 12 inches grandiloquent , 10 to 12 inches wide-eyed
Leaves knavishly arranged in a compact rosette are almost wholly covered with dark red spots , reset the leaf come along to be more red than green . Ideal for adding bodily structure to container planting , rock garden , and xeriscapes .
Art & Sol ™ ' Tooth Fairy '
Zones:9 - 10Height and spread:10 to 12 in tall , 16 to 18 inches extensive
feature long and judge fang - like spikelet in colors ranging from cinnamon brown to yellow and orange . deep blue - greenish leave , arranged in an upright rose window , complement the colorful sticker .
MAD ABOUT MANGAVE ® ' Pineapple Express '
Zones:9 - 10Height and spread:9 to 10 inches marvelous , 16 to 18 inches wide
A spiky rosette of long , sylphlike foliage resemble the top of a pineapple . sound out burgundy spotting , bring out by exposure to lineal sunlight , enhances the minty - dark-green leaves . A superb thriller plant in mixed container arrangements .
MAD ABOUT MANGAVE ® ' commission to Mars '
Zones:8 - 10Height and spread:8 to 10 inches tall , 20 to 22 inches wide-eyed
leave-taking heavily bespeckle with burgundy red musca volitans lead in the acute crimson coloration of this unique excerpt . The farsighted , arching leaves kink upward at the tolerance to show off cinnamon - colored backbone .
MAD ABOUT MANGAVE ® ' Praying workforce '
Zones:9 - 11Height and spread:8 to 10 inches grandiloquent and panoptic
dark-skinned gullible foliage curves inwards like the leaves of an artichoke plant on this typical mangave . The look is enhanced by tenuous carmine - brown foliage margin and terminal spines of the same color that closely touch each other at the top .
MAD ABOUT MANGAVE ® ' Dreadlocks '
Zones:9 - 11Height and spread:10 to 12 inches grandiloquent , 36 to 40 inch wide
heavy ruffle dark green leaves resemble long locks of flow hair , put in a slightly arching low - growing riding habit . Mahogany spots , which are more heavily hard at the center of each foliage , create an interesting stripy effect .
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is mangave cold hardy?
Most mangaves can survive temperatures as gloomy as 20 to 30 academic degree F , but plant should be protected or move indoors if a hard rime is predicted .
Do mangaves flower?
Although mangaves are primarily grown for their foliage , older plants may blossom when grown under ideal conditions , sending up tall spires of vasiform jaundiced flower similar to those seen on agave plants . Once a plant blooms , it will usually go and leave behind small offsets , called " pups , " that make around the base . These can be removed to propagate fresh plants or leave to grow in place and replace the parent plant .
How do you take care of mangave in the winter?
In regions with inhuman winters , you should convey potted mangave plants indoors in early free fall before temperatures systematically drop below 60 degrees F. In warmer climate where mangave can be overwinter outdoors , the fully grown concern is overwatering . Be sure to let the soil dry out out between waterings , since too plastered dirt during the winter months can lead to rootage rot .
Can you grow mangave plants indoors?
Mangaves will do quite well indoors , as long as they receive enough sunlight and are hold at way temperatures above 60 grade F. For the expert color retention , give your plant at least 6 hours of light daily by placing them near a cheery window or under a grow lighter . During the wintertime month , when works are semi - sleeping , cut back on watering frequency ( see10 Tips for Keeping Houseplants Healthy in Winter ) .
