At least in our region, Agaves are never the stars of a Cactus/Succulent show. They are too easy, too common, too big. Size limitations on entries limit plants to small species and hybrids. The Arboretum's grand and glorious A. vilmoriniana, more than six feet (2 M) wide, is the essence of Agave beauty, but there's no room for such plants at a show.
Besides that perfect 'Royal Spine' on the trophy table, the two blue ribbons in the Agave category were this ?A. gypsophila 'Ivory Curls'?, looking none too curly:
...and this pretty (?)A. utahensis var. eborispina(?), though I thought the pot color was a poor choice.
This 'Sunglow' was part of the "A Group Of Five To Nine Plants" category:
A. pumila, and a victoria-reginae with some yellow variegation:
The most majestic Agave, though, was the vilmoriniana in the ground outdoors. Nearby, another choice plant was a silvery Rose Mallee, Eucalyptus rodantha:
The flowers are loaded with nectar, so it must be a hummingbird favorite. By the Mallee was a clump of Xanthorrhoea:
Across the walkway, this Macrozamia johnsonii, about 4 M tall and wide. It gave the Agave vilmoriniana some competition in the grand and glorious category...
...as did this Juniperus scopulorum 'Rependens', an apparently fair substitute for the Kashmir cypress in hotter, drier locations:
So many plants, so little time.
That A. vilmoriniana is stunning.
ReplyDeleteOne of the best I've seen for a long time. They gave it room to grow to its full potential.
DeleteSo beautiful and so many things I can't grow outdoors here.
ReplyDeleteIt's nice to have a look at what's out there, isn't it? You can grow so many things we can't keep alive here.
DeleteI was wondering, did the Juniper smell like cat urine? I've been aroun weeping upright Junipers before and they had an awful fragrance.
ReplyDeleteI didn't notice any unpleasant aroma. Next time I get there, I'll have a sniff.
DeleteNot into the variegated Sago. I wonder if the black pot for the Agave utahensis was a default -safe-color? You're right...it deserves something else. But which (if any) did you buy?
ReplyDeleteDidn't buy a thing. The line was at least 75 people long, moving slooowww, in the blazing sun, with the temperature already 90F. That's what it takes to keep me from buying more plants.
DeletePerhaps the exhibitor didn't have a better pot on hand, and the plant was beautiful anyway. Some winners were in black plastic nursery pots (albeit clean, new ones).