Furcraea

Discussion in 'Tropical Gardening' started by longk, Mar 15, 2016.

  1. longk

    longk Total Gardener

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    I've just received some bulbils for Furcraea parmentieri. It's a member of the Agave family and if you're patient (as in several years at least) it will throw up a spectacular flowering stem.............
    [​IMG]
    (http://plantlust.com/plants/furcraea-longaeva/)

    I had always assumed that it was a plant to grow in Cornwall or London maybe but it would seem that they need some exposure to cold to initiate blooming. If it is too warm it would appear that may never bloom and become palm like specimens instead..................
    [​IMG]

    (original image - http://www.growingontheedge.net/viewtopic.php?p=23166#p23166)

    I now know of them blooming in Leicestershire and Staffordshire so here goes. Is anyone else growing Furcraea or have you grown it in the past?
     
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    • Anthony Rogers

      Anthony Rogers Guest

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      Hi Longk,

      That is spectacular.
      Just one question though......

      Just how big is your garden :)
       
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      • longk

        longk Total Gardener

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        Not big enough! Worry about that later though as I've only got three!
         
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        • Redwing

          Redwing Wild Gardener

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          My mother in law had a furcurea in her garden in Sussex and it did get those enormous flower heads but only in about one or two years in ten.....think it requires a hot summer.
           
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          • JWK

            JWK Gardener Staff Member

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            Is it monocarpic ? Also wondering how spikey the leaves are?
             
          • Victoria

            Victoria Lover of Exotic Flora

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            Way back in 2009 I posted something for IDing in Tropical Identification which now doesn't seem to exist. However, as usual, I believe Pete came to the rescue.

            These are further north than me where it's not so hot/dry and is colder. Are these them? ...


            upload_2016-3-16_9-57-42.jpeg

            upload_2016-3-16_9-57-42.jpeg
             

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            • longk

              longk Total Gardener

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              As it's monocarpic the infrequent blooming would be new plants blooming. From my research it would seem that they need a cold winter to trigger blooming.

              Yes, it is monocarpic. I don't know for sure how spikey they are but as the leaves look quite soft I would say not too spikey if at all.

              Certainly looks like them Victoria.
               
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              • pete

                pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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                Its not spikey as such, the leaves look pointed, but there are no spines at the end and the leaves are not totally rigid.
                 
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                • pete

                  pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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                  Do you know where the two pics were taken @longk .
                  Reason I ask, is because looking at the first pic, the surrounding plants all look pretty much like desert plants, most unlikely to survive in the UK.
                  So probably warmer than the UK, but flowering.

                  Pic 2, is not easy to work out what is growing around, but it looks a lot wetter, possibly tropical, far east maybe.

                  Just an observation:)
                   
                • longk

                  longk Total Gardener

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                  That is north of San Francisco so it sees some frost but not UK levels.

                  Madiera. No cold, no blooms!

                  I'm going to mess about. One planted out with some winter protection, one in a large pot and another held back in a smaller pot. Plus a few seedlings hopefully
                   
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                  • pete

                    pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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                    I've never planted mine out because I didn't think it would take a minus 5C.
                    If it cant take that, possibly after a wet day, then its chances of getting through a winter unscathed with me are remote.
                     
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                    • longk

                      longk Total Gardener

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                      I have to agree. I'm happy to make a winter shelter for one plant and see how it goes.
                      Four pages of discussion here.
                       
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                      • PeterS

                        PeterS Total Gardener

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                        :wow: - nothing else to say
                         
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                        • IceColdRum

                          IceColdRum Cacti & Herb Mad

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                          Beautiful longk! I look forward to the bloom photo in a few years :)

                          It's on my wishlist of plants I would love to grow I remember a few years ago when I visited Tresco I couldn't believe how many of these I saw in Penzance and in and around Tresco

                          [​IMG]
                          Furcraea
                          by Carl Bullock, on Flickr

                          [​IMG]
                          Furcraea closeup
                          by Carl Bullock, on Flickr
                           
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                          • longk

                            longk Total Gardener

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                            @IceColdRum - you would probably have a better chance than most of us as far as growing this outdoors.
                             
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