From a recent visit to the Huntington Desert Garden. I was quite excited to see the blue-leaved form of Agave attenuata. There’s some discussion on the nomenclature of this foxtail agave from San Marcos Growers, which indicates there’s varieties with differing degrees of blueness, but this one would fulfill all my blue needs. No visible label in the garden, but this colony of foxtail agaves would seem to be the ‘Huntington Blue’ San Marcos refers to.
Agave schidigera ‘Durango Delight’
An Agave victoriae-reginae before bloom.
And another after.
I was most interested this visit in checking out moderate-sized aloes that grow in a single stemless rosette. Hopefully, the photos and identification notes correspond correctly.
Aloe aculeata, South Africa, zone 9-10.
Aloe berhana, Ethiopia.
Aloe chabaudii.
Blooms of Aloe sinkatana, described by the HBG as “one of the most useful small landscape aloes.”
(There are currently multiple threads posted this November on the GardenWeb Cacti & Succulents forum like this one and this one, photodocumenting a single astounding collection of aloes that will be a great reference for identification purposes. Really worth a look.)
The different textures and shapes of Agaves/succulents/cacti (I’m sure I don’t know the difference) add so much to a garden, big or small. Wonder how many would grow in zone 8?
Darla, it’s true that this is a dauntingly varied and enormous group of plants. There’s lots you can grow in zone 8, especially among the agaves. A. bracteosa, parryi, ovatifolia, americana, salmiana, schidigera, parryi, the victoriae-reginae pictured above. Lots of choices for you! Let me know if you want me to send you a little parryi to get started.
A. Victoria Reginae and I have had and appointment for years. Every time I see one for sale I decide it’s too expensive and then regret my decision when I don’t see another offered for months. 2011 will be the year of AVR for me..god save the queen dammit !
ps. lovin’ those spiny bumps on A.aculeata.
Kathy, you channeling the Sex Pistols is a riot! The AVR’s are incredibly slow growing, so I’d advise you get one sooner rather than later.