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Agave americana 'Mediopicta Alba' |
White Striped Century Plant - Agave americana 'Mediopicta Alba' is one of the prettiest and most sought after variegated succulents in existence. It is a living sculpture with very dramatic leaves, the juxtaposition of the solid creamy white bands down the centre with the powder blue of margins in a neat rosette looks right to the eye.
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Agave attenuata |
Foxtail Agave - Agave attenuata (Fox Tail Agave) - This Agave presents to the gardener none of the dangers that its spine-covered relatives do. Massing up to 4 to 5 feet tall by as wide with individual rosettes that may reach 4 feet wide on stout curving smooth gray stems that rise up to 4 feet tall. The wide pale green pliable leaves emerge from a tight central spear to arch gracefully back, looking a bit like large open green flower. Mature plants sends up a 5 to 10 foot vertical flower stalk that reflexes back towards the ground before arching upward again, giving this plant the common name Fox-tail agave. The flowers are a pale greenish yellow and are followed by seed pods and many new "plantlets" (or bulbils). Plant in full coastal sun to shade in moist or dry soils (looks best with regular watering). Tolerates seaside conditions but it will usually be damaged in temperatures below 28° F. |
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Agave bracteosa |
Spider Agave - Known as the "Spider Agave." Native to Mexico. Specifically, the northern regions of the Sierra Madre. Its succulent leaves curl in an octopus-like fashion. Their exists many variants in this particular species. A striking yellow inflorescence is produced during the warm summer that reaches 2 meters in height.
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Agave deserti |
Desert Agave/ Mescal - Native to Baja California. A specimen seen along the Arizona desert and the southern most regions of California. Produces a marvelous 6 feet tall inflorescence during the spring which is edible when roasted properly. The yellow flowers add a striking appeal in Desert gardens with a rocky landscape design. Moreover, Indians along the California border utilize the leaf composition for its resilient fibers. The fibers are excellent for making ropes and baskets.
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Agave North americana Blue |
Blue Century Plant - Century plant has no stem. Its thick and massive gray-green leaves originate from a basal rosette. The leaves get up to 6' long and 10" wide, and have sharp spines on the margins and tips. The margin spines are recurved like fishhooks and the tip spines can be more than an inch long. The flower stalk is branched, 20-40' tall, and bears large (3-4") yellow-green flowers. Popular cultivars are 'Marginata' with yellow margins on the leaves, 'Mediopicta' with a broad yellow band down the center of each leaf, and 'Striata' with stripes. |
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Agave vilmoriniana |
Octopus Agave - Succulent with Gray-green rosettes of twisting spineless leaves to 4' tall by 4' wide. Full sun. Drought tolerant. Hardy to 24 degrees F. |
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Aloe plicatilis |
Fan Aloe - Aloe plicatilis (Fan Aloe) - An interesting succulent shrub with gray colored stems that terminate with a fan-like cluster arrangement of the bluish-gray round tipped leaves. Old plants are typically 3-6 feet tall but others in cultivation have been noted to 8 feet. Plants from the wilds of the high rainfall areas of western Cape Mountains of South Africa are reportedly as tall as 15 feet. Each leaf cluster bears one erect 12" tall unbranched inflorescence bearing an open terminal cluster of tubular orange red flowers in late winter to early spring. Plant in the sun, but away from the hottest afternoon sun and water occasionally during summer months. Hardy to about 23 degrees F. Old leaves drop cleanly away to exposed the attractive smooth trunk. Needs winter and spring irrigation if grown where does not receive adequate water from rainfall. |
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Aloe Striata |
Coral Aloe - Aloe striata (Coral Aloe) - Solitary succulent to about 18 inches tall by 2 feet wide with broad pale gray green leaves that vary in color depending on amount of sunlight; in very hot areas the foliage is reddish and in cool spots they will be bluish-green. The flat, broad leaves hold the branching coral-red inflorescence during the late winter into early spring. Best in well-drained sunny locations. Grows to about 2' x 1'. Hardy to 25-30 degrees F. |
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Crassula argentea |
Jade plant - Referred to by multiple names as: Jade plant, Friendship tree, Money Plant, or Chinese Jade. As a succulent, it thrives with little water and any climate in California. Often used as a houseplant across the globe. Capable of producing white flowers and an evergreen foliage. A native to South Africa. It grows in South Africa to its fullest potential because of the dry weather.
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Pachypodium lamerei |
Madagascar Palm - Pachypodium lamerei is a species of Pachypodium. It has large thorns and leaves mostly just at the top of the plant. It is a stem succulent and comes from the island Madagascar. The plant bears large, fragrant flowers. The species has become one of the best known pachypodiums in cultivation, being relatively easy to propagate and grow. In cultivation it is often marketed as the "Madagascar Palm", despite in not being a palm at all. |
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Sempervivums spp. |
Hens and Chicks - Rosettes to a desert garden theme is what this lovely specimen adds. Native to northern deserts of Africa. Adapted to extremely high and low temperatures, along with prolong periods of drought. Able to grow in the poorest soil conditions. This genus contains a wide array of color types and patterns, such as yellow, red, pink, orange, blue, and even purple. When seen in the deserts of Africa, they clump for long stretches of land.
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Yucca elata |
Soaptree Yucca - Soap-tree Yucca is native to the northern regions of Mexico. Specifically, along the Chihuahuan and Sonoran Deserts. Native Americans along the western regions of Texas collect the fiber to make remarkable baskets. The extract is still currently used to produce fine soaps by some locals in Chihuahuan, Mexico.
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