Sideline projects: Mangave pups

Rather than tackling some of my larger projects, I've been puttering around taking care of small ones, while completing ignoring preparations for the upcoming holidays.  I'm having a hard time getting in the mood for the latter this year.

Cleanup and division of two bloomed-out Mangaves were relatively easy tasks.  It seems that some of these plants bloom all too soon and the process leaves the mother plant looking disfigured.  However, all also seem to leave plenty of pups behind to replace themselves.  Even though it bloomed recently, I attended to the Mangave 'Pineapple Express' first because it presented the biggest eyesore.

It bloomed back in October.  The flowers weren't anything to get excited about in my view but the hummingbirds appreciated them.  The clump eventually produced 3 bloom stalks as some of pups surrounding the mother plant also flowered.

The photo on the left was taken immediately before I got started.  The photo of the right shows the mother plant after I'd dug it up.

I immediately replanted the largest pup shown on the left as it had plenty of attached roots.  It was replanted near the other 2 'Pineapple Express' plants I'd installed 3 years ago as part of a trio.

These are the other pups I harvested in a variety of sizes

As I hadn't found suitable grasses to hide the bare branches of the Ceanothus hedge I'd pruned months ago, I decided to plant 5 of the largest Mangave 'Pineapple Express' pups in that area.

The remaining pups went into temporary pots.  I'm not sure the smallest ones on the right will amount to anything but, if they develop better than expected, I'll give them away.  I'm hoping to use the larger pups elsewhere in my own garden once they're well-rooted.

The second bloomed-out Mangave was a 'Silver Fox', given to me by a friend as a pup several years ago after my original 'Silver Fox' bloomed-out.  It flowered back in February but was largely hidden by surrounding plants so it hadn't scream for attention.  I took care of it yesterday.

These are photos of the plant in flower in February.  For a relatively small plant it produces a tall stalk.

This is the empty spot left behind after I'd cut back some of the surrounding plants.  I haven't decided whether or not to return one of the pups to this spot - if I do, I expect it'll just get swamped by its neighbors again.

The mother plant was a tangled mess of pups, and more difficult to divide than 'Pineapple Express'

These were the pups I held onto.  Tinier ones went into the recycle bin.

I potted all of them up for now, even the largest one that had a decent root system

This week, I also pruned the twiggy 'Hachiya' persimmon (Diospyros kaki), which took a good hour or more.  It's less than a perfect job as I wasn't comfortable putting a ladder up on uneven ground.  It'll do for now but next year I think it'll go on my tree service list.

It's still pretty twiggy even though I filled half a green recycle bin with sticks.  The branches are brittle, which complicated matters and the sloping ground didn't help.

I'm waiting for the 'Fuyu' persimmon to drop most of its remaining leaves before I tackle pruning it.  It's branches are also brittle (and tall!) so I'll settle for doing the best I can to thin this one out too.  You may note that one of the 2 Leptospermum 'Pink Pearl' shrubs is already gone here - my husband got it out in a flash yesterday as its roots weren't deep.

This is the remaining Leptospermum.  I'll leave it for now as it still has plenty of flowers. New information suggests it won't tolerate being cut to the ground or even a few feet.  Its tilt, probably the result of growing up tightly against the former fence, also bugs me.

I really do intend to get going on removal of the mass of ferns in that part of the garden sometime soon but I may attend to pruning the 'Fuyu' persimmon and the redbuds (Cercis occidentalis) first.  Sometimes I wish we got snow, putting garden work on hold for a time, but maintenance is a year-round activity here and, right now, virtually every part of my garden is calling for attention.

All material © 2012-2025 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party

Sources of cool season excitement

Sources of cool season excitement in the garden are limited.  However, by comparison to much of the country, I know that those of us in coastal Southern California are lucky just to have our gardens remain active.  We don't get frost, much less snow, and we consider it cold when daytime temperatures drop into the low 60sF.  As I prepare this post, a tree-trimming team of six is busy pruning many of my trees and large shrubs.  It's a necessary although nerve-racking process but I'll cover that later this week.  In the meantime, I can offer only a couple snippets regarding events in the garden.

First up is a Mangave preparing to bloom.

Mangave 'Silver Fox' is the fastest bloomer among my modest collection of these plants.  This one was given to me by a friend as a good-sized pup in 2021 after the one I'd planted in 2017 bloomed out.

South Coast Botanic Garden had a 'Silver Fox' of its own in full flower when I visited there last week

Between October 31st and November 6th I got to work in my nearly naked cutting garden.  Seeds were sown and eighty-five bulbs were planted, along with a dozen plugs of snapdragons.  This week I was pleased to see that seedlings are already making an appearance.  It doesn't look like much yet but the germination rates seem faster than they were last year.

In addition to snapdragons, I planted 4 varieties of Ranunculus in bed #1.  They haven't emerged yet as far as I tell but the Calendulas I sowed from seed among them are popping up all over.  The Calendulas will be thinned as soon as they get taller and the Ranunculus show up.

In bed #2, the first of the 5 new varieties of Anemones are peeking up (in addition to those that have returned from last year), as are the larkspur (Consolida ajacis) seedlings.  The hardware cloth is a temporary measure to keep the birds and other critters from harming the seedlings.  It'll come up when it's time to thin the seedlings.

Bed #3 is already showing sweet pea seedlings; however, the Nigella papillosa seeds I sowed have yet to show themselves

A little rain would probably help things along.  The first "atmospheric river" of the season was slated to move into Northern California yesterday.  There's still just over a forty percent chance it'll reach my area this weekend but I'm feeling a smidge more optimistic about it.  As dry as we are, even a little rain would be the source of great excitement.

All material © 2012-2024 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party

Striking Succulents

After all the rain we've had this month, my succulents are looking squeaky clean.  I thought it's a good time to show off some of those that don't get regular coverage (although some of those that do may have crept in here and there).

This pot contains Aeonium 'Jolly Green', a low-growing variety, and Graptosedum 'Vera Higgins', showing off the copper color it develops under cool conditions

These are all 'Sunburst' Aeoniums but the 2 on the left have been growing in a pot in partial shade for years while those on the right are planted in the ground in full sun.  What's most interesting are the variations in the color of the 2 on the left.  Note that the yellow and green stripes in the 2 rosettes are reversed.

'Velour' is probably my favorite Aeonium.  They need at least partial sun to develop that red color.

Agave americana mediopicta 'Alba' is looking far more striking now that it's been liberated from the embrace of the overgrown Agave 'Blue Flame' we removed last month.  When I looked closely at this photo, I realized it's also up to its old tricks with a new pup tucked under a leaf on the left.

I planted 2 Agave attenuata 'Ray of Light' (in different sizes) in October 2021.  I wasn't overly impressed with them at first but their variegation is more pronounced now.

I love the colors of Agave lophantha 'Quadricolor' but  these plants are sneaky and prolific puppers.  You can see yet another new pup developing on the far left of this photo.

I planted Agave 'Mr Ripple' from a 4-inch pot at the back of my south-side succulent bed in July 2016, where it was largely hidden and seldom noticed.  With last month's cleanup of that bed, I'm admiring it much more often. 

The elimination of large clumps of Aeonium 'Kiwi' from my north-side garden in January provided a clearer view of Agave pygmaea 'Dragon Toes' (left).  At some point, the plant had produced a good-sized pup on the other side of the gravel path (right).  The pup of the dwarf agave is crowded by the larger Agave capensis so I may transplant it into my garage area succulent bed when it's ready for replanting.

Speaking of plants that need to be moved, I think both of these fall into that category.  Neither appears on my spreadsheet but they may be varieties of Agave titanota.  The one on the left is small and will be easy to move.  The one on the right, with an attached pup, is going to be much harder to remove from under a large Agave 'Blue Glow' without blood being shed.

I couldn't resist including a shot of this renovated area of the north-side garden featuring Agave ovatifolia 'Frosty Blue', A. applanata, and A. pygmaea 'Dragon Toes' surrounded by other succulents
 

One of several Aloe striata (aka coral aloes) in my garden finally starting to bloom

Cotyledon orbiculata, one in a pot and another in the ground.  These plants glow in the garden.  I think I need a few more.

Pot containing Echeveria 'Violet Queen' accompanied by Crassula perforata and Sedum 'Little Missy'.  I love the bright pink edges of the Echeveria.

I made the mistake of planting one Faucaria tigrina in the ground.  They're much happier in pots.

This clam shell I planted with succulents in November 2022 has been very satisfying.  Gonialoe variegata is currently getting ready to bloom.  Last year, Oscularia deltoides bloomed with lavender flowers.  Other elements include Cotyledon orbiculata and Graptoveria 'Fred Ives'.

I planted this pot on steel legs a year ago with Graptopetalum pachyphyllum, G. paraguayense, Graptoveria 'Fred Ives', and Sedum 'Little Missy'

'Aztec King' has become one of my favorite Mangaves.  I've got one in a pot and 3 in the ground.

Mangave 'Crazy Cowlick'

Mangave 'Night Owl'

Mangave 'Pineapple Express'

2 of several 'Red Wing' Mangaves

This mix of Mangaves in my north-side garden includes 'Lavender Lady', 'Purple People Eater', and 'Silver Fox'

Another mix of Mangaves at the back door includes 'Aztec King', 'Falling Water', and 'Praying Hands'

There are small succulents scattered here and there but I've mainly used them as fillers so they don't stand out as well as the larger plants except when used in pots.  As I renovate my garage area succulent bed, I plan to use more of the smaller succulents in larger groups to boost their impact.

All material © 2012-2024 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party

My Mangave Collection

I've been planning to inventory my Mangave collection for some time.  A Mangave is a hybrid of a plant with parents from two genera, Manfreda and Agave.  The mix varies, which in turn produces plants that vary in color, form and size.  I last surveyed my plants in June 2019.  At that time I had fourteen Mangaves.  I knew I'd accumulated a lot more since then but even I was surprised by how many I now have.  Every time I thought I'd identified all of them, I'd remember I had others in another spot - and then yet another.  While some of my Mangaves are grouped, there are others scattered seemingly everywhere else.  Even when I stopped counting home-grown pups, I tallied over fifty plants consisting of twenty-eight varieties.  

Before I share my favorites, let me show you some of the spots I've tucked them into.

My very first Mangave, 'Bloodspot', was planted in this north side garden in 2015.  'Lavender Lady' and 'Silver Fox' followed in 2017.  'Purple People Eater' joined the mix in 2019.  My first 'Silver Fox' lost its shape after blooming and I replaced it with a pup from a friend.  At some point, I also added a 'Lavender Lady' pup (still small) and, more recently, a 'Catch a Wave' pup from another friend.

Two Mangave 'Jaguar' found a home in this bed in the front garden in 2019

'Spotty Dotty', acquired in 2018, was moved to this area in the same front garden bed a year or so ago

I replanted this area on the north end of the back garden last year and, among other succulents, planted several Mangaves: 3 'Frosted Elegance', one 'Freckles & Speckles', another 'Lavender Lady', and a 'Blazing Saddles'.  The plant in the green pot is 'Mangave Cowlick'.

I've got Mangaves in pots all over the place.  This group of pots by the back door includes 'Black Magic', Praying Hands', and 'Aztec King'.

3 Mangave 'Pineapple Express' I picked up at my local botanic garden's spring plant sale ended up in a border near the back patio

I recently planted one 'Navajo Princess' and 4 other unlabeled Mangaves that might be 'Red Wing' on the south end of one back border

 

Many of my favorites are planted in the ground.

This is 'Blazing Saddles'.  I have a second one in a pot.

I have 3 'Frosted Elegance' in one bed and a fourth in a pot.  The one in the pot receives more shade and hasn't developed the pink tinge shown by those in the back garden bed that get more sun.

This is my one and only 'Freckles & Speckles' and I love it (despite the name)

'Jaguar' is vigorous, although I'm constantly fighting the ants that pile up soil around the plant's base, presumably trying to set up one of their honeydew collection sites in collaboration with aphids.  The foliage color of mine has a copper tone I haven't seen in the plant's publicity photos.

This is my largest, most stately 'Lavender Lady'

Without any intentional plan, 'Pineapple Express' has gained a foothold in at least 3 areas of my garden

I've got 2 'Purple People Eater' in the ground and a plant in a pot that lost its label I think is the same variety

I love the colors of 'Spotty Dotty' but I've concerned that her curved leaves and dried out leaf tips, combined with the pink flush, indicate that she's not getting enough water

I have several plants, purchased without labels or labeled (incorrectly I believe) as 'Blazing Saddles' I think may be 'Red Wing'.  The only plant shown here that was actually labeled as 'Red Wing' by a reliable seller is the one in the pot on the upper left.

Several of my favorites are living their best life in pots.

I tried planting 'Bad Hair Day' in the ground but it was not happy.  I have 2 in coordinating pots by the front door.

With its downward curving leaves, I decided 'Crazy Cowlick' was made for a pot

This 'Coffee Jitters' was received as a gift pup from Gerhard of Succulents and More.  It's done well in a pot, although its placement under a hose bib isn't ideal.

I've planted 'Kaleidoscope' in the ground with mixed results.  This one in a pot, a gift from a friend last year, is doing very well, although it may need a larger pot soon.

'Moonglow' is also made for pot culture

I fell in love with 'Night Owl' last year and a birthday gift card from a friend got me over my reluctance to purchase it in a larger size than I usually start with

Gerhard of Succulents and More picked 'Painted Desert' up at a plant sale in Northern California at my request and brought it down this way when he passed through.  After a year or so in a pot I think it's about ready to be planted out in the garden.

There are a host of others I really like but they've yet to grow into their potential.

Those in this category include, clockwise from the upper left: 'Aztec King', 'Mission to Mars', 'Navajo Princess', 'Praying Hands', and the 'Silver Fox' that replaced my original plant.  I saw a mature 'Mission to Mars' in a 3-gallon pot for $50 at my local garden center last week and was oh so tempted but I remain patient.  'Praying Hands' has an unusual form that I fell in love with the first time I saw it but it's a very slow grower.  (You can see it in its mature form here.)

 

There are a couple more I have mixed feelings about.

'Bloodspot' (left) was my very first Mangave but, with all the pups developing at its base, it needs to be dug up and divided.  'Tooth Fairy' (right) was one of my favorites but I think it wants to be liberated from its pot.

The remaining varieties are still too small to demonstrate their value in the garden.

Clockwise from the upper left: 'Black Magic', 'Catch a Wave', 'Falling Waters', 'My Dog Spot', and Hansara 'Jumping Jack'.  That last draws its parentage from Manfreda, Agave and Polianthes.  All were received as tiny pups and, although 4 of the 5 shown here were planted a year or more ago, they remain very small.  'Falling Waters' needs to go into a pot I think.

I've only lost one variety thus far, 'Snow Leopard'.  I had two plants in the same bed as 'Jaguar' and 'Spotty Dotty'.  The white margins of 'Snow Leopard' rapidly turned pink, looking more like 'Kaleidoscope' and, like 'Kaleidoscope', it didn't like the planting bed in the front garden at all.  It's admittedly a very dry area.  The plants shrank to a sad shadow of their former selves and I removed them.  I saved a small piece of one but whether I can resurrect it to its original form remains to be seen.

That'll have to do for this review.  Maybe I'll revisit my collection in another year or two.  I've already got my eye on another Mangave variety with Agave ovatifolia parentage, 'Permanent Wave', but I've yet to find a source for it.  If you'd like to see other Mangaves, I've got a portfolio of photos showing 52 varieties going on a Pinterest page you can find here.

All material © 2012-2022 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party