The weekly fav.

The weekly fav. this week is a plant that I absolutely LOVE... Agave Ovatifolia 'Frosty Blue!' My agave ovatifolia inspiration came years ago from Pam's blog digging when she posted about her massive agave ovatifolia. You can see it on the link here as she chronicles moving a monster agave. After seeing hers, I knew I "needed" one or two (or three).

Here's an overview of where the largest agave ovatifolia sits in the garden. Here in the PNW this is considered craziness by most ... but by my standards, completely necessary!

I love the powdery blues of this agave. Being next to a large rock it even casts some of those beautiful evening agave shadows that I've always dreamed of.

This was my smaller agave ovatifolia. I say that past tense as the once smaller agave is quickly gaining some size.

Key to success in the PNW is excellent drainage and as much sunshine as you can possible provide them. Mine are all in raised beds, full southern exposure, overhead canopy of branches keeping the area dry, and being planted on a slight angle so that water drains out of the centre.

Here are the details:

Hardiness: Zone 7 (dry) -10
Size: 6-8ft (yikes!)
Exposure: sun

Here's what Cistus nursery has to say:

"A Cistus introduction and new. This mega-century plant, first discovered by Lynn Lowrey in northeastern Mexico some 30 years ago and just named recently by agaveist Greg Starr, might be the largest of the cold hardy agaves, reaching eventually to 6-8 ft with beautifully formed, blue leaves. Our selection, made from a more recent batch, has a distinct, pale aquamarine hue with the classic shape of cupped, upright, and slightly outward bending leaves. The species has taken the cold and wet of Dallas TX, for instance, so upper USDA zone 7 for cold hardiness; possibly colder in gritty or dry soil. Fabo container plant."