This end of month favorite was gifted to me years ago by a friend. She identified it as Agave weberi and that's what I've always called it (for instance when I "faved" it in August of 2014). Here it is before our ice-fest earlier in December...
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The two stock tanks on either side are empty because, in anticipation of the cold temps, I pulled the small (not terribly hardy) Agaves that usually spend winter there (they're toasty in the basement). The burlap you can see tucked around the base was an effort to add a layer of "mulch"...
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So as I said, I've always thought of this as an Agave weberi...
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But when I visited the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix last October I saw several plants that were labeled as A. weberi. This is not the same plant as mine!
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Look ma, no teeth! (on the sides of the leaves)
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Although I did eventually find these...
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On this plant. Look at the lower left hand side, just above the signage.
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I've also had two blog commenters question the name, when I referred to my plant as A. weberi. So that leave's me asking, what is it?
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Correct identification is getting even more important to me, as we've got an impending cold snap (12F as a low, with high temps below freezing for days...YIKES!) and I'm trying to figure out if heroic measures are called for (A. weberi is said to be hardy to 10F). Although really, this bad boy is so big it's not going anywhere...
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My what long terminal spikes you have!
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The grey-green color certainly fits most A. weberi descriptions, whereas Agave americana is typically much bluer.
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Any guesses? I'm all ears...oh and I'd love to hear about your favorite plants this month, even if they have names already!
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Inspired by Amy at A Small Sunny Garden, I'm starting a new "weather diary" section at the bottom of each blog post. I've tried to track temperature highs and lows elsewhere but haven't managed to stick with it. Since this blog is the one thing I seem to be able to consistently maintain, I figure this may work...
Weather Diary, December 29: Hi 42F, Low 33F / Precip 0
All material © 2009-2016 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.
The two stock tanks on either side are empty because, in anticipation of the cold temps, I pulled the small (not terribly hardy) Agaves that usually spend winter there (they're toasty in the basement). The burlap you can see tucked around the base was an effort to add a layer of "mulch"...
So as I said, I've always thought of this as an Agave weberi...
But when I visited the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix last October I saw several plants that were labeled as A. weberi. This is not the same plant as mine!
Look ma, no teeth! (on the sides of the leaves)
Although I did eventually find these...
On this plant. Look at the lower left hand side, just above the signage.
I've also had two blog commenters question the name, when I referred to my plant as A. weberi. So that leave's me asking, what is it?
Correct identification is getting even more important to me, as we've got an impending cold snap (12F as a low, with high temps below freezing for days...YIKES!) and I'm trying to figure out if heroic measures are called for (A. weberi is said to be hardy to 10F). Although really, this bad boy is so big it's not going anywhere...
My what long terminal spikes you have!
The grey-green color certainly fits most A. weberi descriptions, whereas Agave americana is typically much bluer.
Any guesses? I'm all ears...oh and I'd love to hear about your favorite plants this month, even if they have names already!
Inspired by Amy at A Small Sunny Garden, I'm starting a new "weather diary" section at the bottom of each blog post. I've tried to track temperature highs and lows elsewhere but haven't managed to stick with it. Since this blog is the one thing I seem to be able to consistently maintain, I figure this may work...
Weather Diary, December 29: Hi 42F, Low 33F / Precip 0
All material © 2009-2016 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.