If you want a garden you never have to water, consider agave. With over a hundred species and varieties of agave available to Southern California gardeners, you'll have plenty of options if you decide to go all out.
The genus name Agave comes from the Greek word meaning "noble", and both the appearance and biology of Agave species have noble aspects. Many species, not more than a foot or two in height, have the appearance of regal crowns; one is named after a queen (Agave victoriae-reginae) and the other is named after a king (Agave ferdinandi-regis). Along with corn and potatoes, the agave was the backbone of the Aztec and Mayan economy. Agaves have been used for food and drink, as well as making soap, fabrics and clothing, red dye, needles, medicines, and fences.
Agaves also show nobility, they sacrifice themselves, after a year or two of life, for the sake of the next generation, pour all their energy into the flowers and then die. Agave flowers are often a spectacular sight as the stems grow a foot a day or more, reaching a height of 40 feet in some species. In the agave habitat, these stems rise above all other plants so that bats can easily enter and feed on the nectar of the agave flowers. In the process of extracting nectar, these bats – like bees that seek nectar in the blossoms of fruit trees – pollinate the flowers of the agaves. By the way, the name "ancient plant" (Agave americana) is wrong, because the life expectancy of this and all other agaves does not exceed 25 years on average, and many of them bloom and die at the age of 10 -15 years . . .
Because of its potent consumption potential, those who grow blue agave (Agave tequilana) remove the flower stalk before it has time to develop to direct the energy that will be used to form flowers and seeds into the muscle of the ear. or in the heart of the plant to do. Fat. , whose carbohydrates turn into tequila. Where the peduncles are allowed to grow and set seeds, the needles do not grow as much as when the peduncles are severed to bud. Between picking a blooming flower and picking the needles, 6 to 12 months pass. (Note: Pina means "pineapple" and refers to the heart-like appearance of harvested agave after the leaves have been removed.)
In recent years the cultivation of tequila has increased significantly thanks to the economic return on investment as the consumption of water and fertilizers is minimal. The problem is that only one variety, Weber's Blue, is legally permitted for true tequila distillation, and due to what usually happens in monocultures, when only one variety is planted, disease and pest resistance is compromised. . Weber's blue agave, for example, is particularly susceptible to fungal and bacterial diseases, as well as destructive agave, which causes the plant to die completely. Other than tequila, Agave tequilana is a symmetrical plant that makes beautiful single specimens as an accent or garden container. It is also useful for erosion control on slopes. If you're not interested in making tequila, go for the Lemeno and Sunrise blue agave varieties, both decorated with yellow leaf borders.
When they die, agaves tend to produce several offspring at the base, called newborns, which sprout from the rhizome of the mother plant. A minority of agave plants may or may not produce pupae, but will grow a hundred or more "mini-me" bulbs on their flower stalks. The bulbs are miniature versions of the mother plant, often with roots attached. Rootless bulbs are also easy to propagate by soaking the soil in rooting hormone and planting in small pots.
Agaves are known to be slow growing, require little water, and have a shallow root system. These qualities make them ideal not only for homeowners who want a lush sculpture garden that never needs watering, but also for those who have limited space and need to grow everything in containers.
In humans, agaves are associated with scary, sharp spines like a cactus. This stereotype is reinforced by the fact that many species have barbed wire on the sides of the leaves, which prevents close contact with them unless chain gloves are worn.
Although most agaves have thorns, there are also smooth leaves. The most striking is the foxtail agave (Agave attenuata), so named for its downy drooping inflorescences. It is a familiar sight in Southern California with its soft pale green rosette leaves and 10 to 15 foot arching flower spikes. Agave attenuata var. variegata has leaves with alternating gold and green stripes. Octopus agave (Agave vilmoriniana) has smooth, blue, needle-like leaf tentacles. Its pedestal contains hundreds of lamps. The largest agave is Agave mapisaga var. Lisa, its cultivar name means "smooth" in Spanish, referring to the texture of its giant leaves which can be up to eight feet long. The Blue Glow and Blue Flame agave varieties have soft blue leaves and a tendency to clump. They create a sense of calm in the garden and Blue Glow is distinguished by the red and gold streaks along the edges of the leaves. The twin agave (Agave geminiflora) is a beautiful choice with hundreds of needleless thornless leaves that reach up to two meters in length. San Marcos Growers ( smgrowers.com ) is the leading source of succulents of all kinds, with a list that includes many dozen agaves.
White sage (Salvia apiana), originally from California, has been repeatedly harvested from the wild for its wonderful medicinal properties. It has gained an international reputation as a spiritual cleanser when it burns like a stain. While not officially endangered, the species may become endangered in the near future. A series of white sage (Salvia apiana) sweepstakes, sponsored by the Orange County Chapter of the California Native Plant Society, will take place in the coming months. The list of dates, locations, times, and number of essays to be released, one per Orange County resident, is as follows: 12/11 Sage Festival at Tree of Life Garden, San Juan Capistrano, 9:00-12:00, 96 plants; November 19, Environmental Center, San Juan Capistrano, 9am to noon, 96 plants; November 26, Center for Environmental Health, Newport Beach, 10am to Noon, 96 plants; 3/12, Fullerton Arboretum, Fullerton, 9:00-12:00, 96 plants; 1/14, Nature Interpretive Center, Dana Point, 9:30-12:00, 96 plants; Jan. 21, home-grown orange, orange, 10am-12pm, 96 plants; January 28, Heritage Garden, 10am-12pm, 96 plants; Feb. 19, Unitarian Universalist Church, Costa Mesa, 10:00 a.m. to noon, 50 plants; 2/2, Laguna Beach Garden Club, Laguna Beach, 9:30am to noon, 80 plants; 2/25, Shipley Nature Center, Huntington Beach, 10am-12pm, 50 plants. For more information, call Elizabeth Wallace at 949-370-0590.
California Native of the Week : When in bloom, flannel bush (Fremontodendron californicum) is one of California's most spectacular natives. Its yellow flowers are so conspicuous that they can completely hide the brush-shaped leaves from which its common name derives. The flannel bush quickly grows to 20 feet tall and 15 feet wide and, planted now, will flower profusely when spring arrives. The cultivars mentioned are more attractive than the species, but any flannel shrub will provide a memorable, if somewhat problematic, botanical experience. The leaves are quite attractive with three soft, russet colored petals. Unfortunately, the rusty look is made possible by annoying hairs. When working with this plant, you must wear long sleeves and pants, as well as gloves and a face mask. Trimming is quite a challenge because you are always covered in flannel sheets. It is good to plant a fennel bush in a place where it is not necessary to prune it at all, because it forms a backdrop to a wall or fence, where it receives direct sunlight throughout the day. Any standing water is absolutely fatal to this plant, so after the first year in the ground it's best not to water it at all. Typically, flannel bushes live for only six to eight years, but many still consider them worthy of attention due to their fertility and long flowering. You can grow it in a trellis, but you'll need to prune it mercilessly to keep it in check, a conundrum since pruning a flannel bush when it's more than a few years old can kill it quickly.
Please send questions, comments, and photos, especially rare or California native agaves, to joshua@perfectplants.com
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