Agave americana is perhaps the most common of all Agave, but this white variegated form is particularly sweet. There are many clones, white white stripes, yellow stripes or no stripes, and all grow large so plan on a large, heavy tub which you will need to drag into the house during the winter, if you live in areas with deep frosts or wet snow. Many Agaves can handle some dry, freezing weather, but north of Atlanta, they are best grown as house plants or greenhouse specimens which spend the summer, outdoors.

 Agave ‘Meat Hook’ is aptly named. This is one form which I now have to keep high on a shelf since we have a puppy exploring the garden.

 Many attractive new Japanese cultivars are being introduced, liek this Agave schidigera ‘Shira ito no Ohi’,  or Queen of White Thread Century Plant. This intense little Agave is slow growing, and smaller than most forms, making it an excellent house plant for a sunny exposure, or for  a small terrace or porch. In a collection, these smaller more colorful Agave add both dimension and texture not found in the larger forms.

 Agave scabra ssp. scabra
This un named form of a Mexican species has spines like sharks teeth. This is one of the newer species introduced, reportedly more hardy than other species, since it was collected at high elevations in the northern mountains of Mexico. For us, it is still an winter tender variety.

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As if the foliage isn’t attractive enough, the blossoms on Albuca species are just as interesting,

The tender bulbs that produce this plant are all easy to grow and highly collectible. They can be grown on either a sunny winter windowsill, or in a cool greenhouse. Albuca come from South Africa and are another bulb plant that is currently being reclassified by many taxonomists, once placed in Hycinthaceae, it is now agreed generally to be closer to Ornithogallum. Not that we all really care, as long as everyone agrees.

The plant grows in the typical pattern of many South African bulbs, dormant half the year when it demands dry conditions, and damp, if not wet conditions for the other half of the year. To add complexity for those wishing to master this treasure, the soil mix must be well drained. This is a bulb which cannot freeze, so one must grow it either as a house plant in a cool sunny window, or in a greenhouse. Look for Albuca on Internet cactus and succulent shops, even eBay will do. A few specialty catalog sites will also carry mature bulbs, as well as some rare seed sources specializing in succulent and cactus seed, or South African bulb seed. 

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