For a reliable dose of cool, deep greens and blues are the colors to choose.
Yucca whipplei, Agave ‘Blue Glow,’ Elymus arenarius, Blue Lyme Grass
Cool comes smooth, barbed, spiked, sometimes all at once, like the barbs of Furcraea macdougalii
Cool can take the heat. (Thank you, Aloe marlothiii, for remaining flawlessly poised during this interminably hot summer.)
Always more cool to discover. From unknown to me before July 2012 to ecstatic possession in September 2012, Agave celsii var. albicans ‘UCB.’ A Pasadena nursery was having a 35% off sale, and there he was, an agave I’ve never seen offered locally before. The kismet of cool.
Most refreshing on a 100F day. Love the ‘UCB’!
Agave celsii var. albicans is one that I’ve been lusting after since seeing it on a garden tour in August…so terribly cool that it’s almost icy!
@Hoov, looks like temps might be letting up later this week. Hallelujah!
@Loree, I’ve misplaced my Irish agave book, but I saw you ID’d this agave on the HPSO tour. Yours had more prominent teeth on the margins, but that might be due to culture. Mine looked like it had been neglected at the nursery…