This hybrid cross is the best of both its parents, boasting unique and colorful cultivars
Mangaves happen to be one of our absolute favourite additions to our garden . A mangave ( ×Mangavecvs . , zone 8–11 ) is a loanblend of manfreda ( Manfredaspp . and cvs . , Zones 7–11 ) and agave ( Agavespp . and cvs . , Zones 7–11 ) . Breeders have taken some of the best dimension of each works to create these beautiful and durable fiddling hybridized muffin . They grow at a faster pace than American aloe , thanks to their manfreda genes , which is also where they get some of their awe-inspiring folio shape and pattern . And because of their agave genes , they have inherit drouth resistance and sun - loving strength , making them an absolute treasure .
Although some mangaves are a bit more stale - stalwart than others , most are hardy in USDA zone 8–11 . They are glad in full Dominicus or partial shade , and they want picayune urine to fly high . Mangaves are also cervid and rabbit resistant , which makes them a joy in front railway yard . As of 2018 there were over 40 cultivar of mangave , with names such as ‘ Bad Hair Day ‘ and ‘ Catch a Wave ’ . They are all beautiful in their own right , but we ’ll share a few here that we have in our garden to impart a little aid to these still up - and - come hybrids .
The first mangave we imbed after moving to Tucson was ‘ Inkblot ’ ( Mangave‘Inkblot ’ , Zones 9–10 ) . This cultivar is an amazing combination of both parents , with blood cherry spotting on broad , drear gullible leaves with lilliputian white teeth . ‘ Inkblot ’ will develop to about 8 column inch gamey and 22 inches wide , keeping it perfectly compact for gardens of any size . The more sun it receive , the darker the red spots get . Ours flowered after one year , sprout up a 6 - foot capitulum . It has held up nicely in our dusty overnight temperatures and continues to thrive .
A Modern improver to our gardens is a ‘ Blazing Saddles ’ mangave ( Mangave‘Blazing Saddles ’ , Zones 9–11 ) . Although many account its light-green leave as heavily blob with red , it ’s hard to trust that the leaves are not red - spotted with a flyspeck number of glowering park . This small cultivar has a spread of 6 to 8 inches broad and 12 to 14 inches tall , making it the perfect bantam filler in any container or rock garden .
Another favourite mangave currently residing in our gardens is ‘ Kaleidoscope ’ ( Mangave‘Kaleidoscope ’ , Zones 8–11 ) . This is one of the big cultivars we have , with a potential brace of 24 in wide and 36 inch tall . Its multicolored leaves come in feel of greenish and yellow with a tripping red mete . If that was n’t outstanding enough , the leaves are also covered in delicate red spots . It ’s a show - stopple ! As it matures , it should indue us with a 6 - to-7 - foot flower spike over the summer . The flowers are green and have a subtle scent . Unlike some agave , mangaves do not perish after flowering .
Keep an optic on your mangaves to help prevent pests such as weighing machine and mealybug , and do n’t overwater . As with many drought - tolerant works , too much water can direct to both crownwork decomposition and/or root rot .
Mangaves are the sodding improver to any garden or container if you ’re wait for grain , color and interestingness . They ’re a piece of cake to handle for , and they get tons of dramatic event . Even if mangaves are n’t for you , at least do yourself a favor and see to it out all the names of the different cultivars , because most of them are about as apt as they come ! In our next living , we ’d like to come up with sport plant name too !
— Sheila Schultz and Laurel Startzel are a mother - daughter duo who founded Denver Dirty Girls Container Gardening while exist in Denver and have continue their commercial enterprise since go to Tucson , Arizona .
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Our ‘Inkblot’ mangave sent up a flower spike after only one year in the ground. Unlike many agaves, mangaves will not die after flowering.Photo: Laurel Startzel
The ‘Inkblot’ mangave at lower left is a perfect dark focal point in a container with other, lighter succulents.Photo: Carol Collins
Our ‘Blazing Saddles’ mangave has so much dark red spotting that it makes the foliage itself look maroon in the light.Photo: Laurel Startzel
‘Kaleidoscope’ has a contrasting mix of red and green stripes on its foliage, which are sure to draw the eye.Photo: Laurel Startzel
