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Re: Soil preparation for succulent and spiky planting
Posted: Sun May 05, 2019 11:48 am
by Paul S
How large is too large?
Agave montana is brilliant but gets to 4-5ft across in time.
Agave gentryi maybe a tad smaller
Agave geminiflora is dainty, by agave standards, and seems to enjoy the west country. Maybe 5ft across
Agave striata is small and hardy but not very agave-like.
Ditto Agave bracteosa
Agave univittata is a good one. 2.5ft or so.
Agave mitis always seems to do well in the west, stays fairly small.
There are plenty of others!
I think if I was in Falmouth and wanted just one it would be Agave mitis. You may find it offered as Agave celsii. But not exactly dark greeny-blue.
Re: Soil preparation for succulent and spiky planting
Posted: Sun May 05, 2019 12:39 pm
by AndyC
Thanks Paul. The A. univitatta is the right size and colour but the A. mitis is a lovely shape. I'll look out for both.
Re: Soil preparation for succulent and spiky planting
Posted: Sun May 05, 2019 12:45 pm
by Paul S
Just thought of another actually - Agave heteracantha. Often sold as Agave xylonacantha. it is similar to univittata (syn. lophantha, btw) but with rip-saw teeth.
Re: Soil preparation for succulent and spiky planting
Posted: Mon May 06, 2019 6:02 am
by AndyC
Nice colour on that one, thanks again.
Re: Soil preparation for succulent and spiky planting
Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2020 12:29 pm
by AndyC
I've been so pleased with the way the succulents shrugged off the winter cold and wet I've made a new bed for more of them.
New bed 1 by
Andy Cowlishaw, on Flickr
New bed 2 by
Andy Cowlishaw, on Flickr
In total, the bed is about 4M x 5M. The stone for the wall came from the garden. When I dug other new beds in the lawn I found lots of stone a previous owner must have buried). I'll have to wait until I can get some weed control material and a couple of tons of gravel before I can plant it up but I have already got some plants to go in it. So far, Yucca rostrata, Yucca gloriosa, Furcraea longaeva, Aloe arorescens and striatula, Aeonium arboreum, Carpobrotus edulis, a number of Sempervivums and Jovibarba and this Agave that I was given which I would like a name for please?
Agave by
Andy Cowlishaw, on Flickr
Re: Soil preparation for succulent and spiky planting
Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2020 3:05 pm
by Paul S
Do NOT under any circumstances plant carpobrotus.
Wander down to The Lizard if you need to ask why.
Re: Soil preparation for succulent and spiky planting
Posted: Wed Mar 24, 2021 10:00 am
by AndyC
The hedge has now been replaced by a fence and I'm looking to plant up the top and crevices in the wall with something colourful and drought resistant.
This is the mildest part of the garden in full sun all day long, even the Aeonium zwartkop survived the winter unprotected, battered but not defeated.
Suggestions please.
IMG_5253 by
Andy Cowlishaw, on Flickr