Bought this today. I must have been asleep as I'd never heard of it, but had a guess it was a hybrid between two different plants. Turns out its a cross between Manfreda and Agave, and there is a whole series of plants out there that are created by this method. Home | Mad About Mangave®
Looks like a spiny Agave but it isn't really sharp at all. Apparently they are faster growing than Agave as well, but I dont think any are hardy. Just hoping frost free is enough.
That's the point , they are not. In an Agave that would be a vicious spine, in this plant its just a flexible thorn that doesn't bite,
I picked that plant, its called "Lavender Lady" because I thought it was the closest looking to an Agave, it has the erect central spike where the new leaves peal off from. A lot of the other varieties seem to have an open centre.
Very nice find indeed, and sounds like a cross to get the good bits from both parents. Softer and faster growing than Agaves, but with the perfectness of the shape. What's not to like? Great find, thanks Pete! (I nearly thought this topic was about mancaves... ) What's the columnar cactus in the background of the photo please?
I believe it to be Stenocereus therberi, it hit the roof of my conservatory a few years ago and I cut the top off, the cut off part failed to root and the parent looks bad now, but I've had it a long time so I dont like to dump it, its an old friend.