A friend just sold his house and I was over there yesterday and took some pictures of his plants. It's amazing to me how large some of them are, I was with him on many nursery trips 4 years ago when he landscaped it and none of them were very large. I don't know the names of most of them, sorry.

A row of agave


Not a succulent, it's called Malanga here but I think it is a taro. It grows quickly in sun or shade.



There were only 3 of these originally, it pups like crazy.


a view from above


that small variegated agave at their base is eventually going to be larger than any of them, it grows slowly but can get up to 3' across.


These are in an interior patio. They have more than doubled in size and branched as well.


Close up of the agave at their base.


This one has doubled in size in 4 years.


This one is in a rather small pot, he's going to take it with him to his new place.


I know palms don't belong here either but this Bismarckia nobiliis is so beautiful I included it. It was no more than 3' high when he bought it. Eventually it will tower over this large open space next to the garage. Really a beautiful palm with an incredible dusty blue color.



I didn't have my camera with me and took these with my cell phone. I hope you enjoyed the visit as much as I did.

How beautiful! I just love those huge agaves! Sure wish they were hardy here......

Thanks for the nice tour Jonna. Those Pachypodiums are especially beautiful specimens. I have proposed the image for the database, I hope that is ok.
They will grow fast if given plenty of water in the summer (growing) season.

Thanks for the name Pachypodiums Hetty, I couldn't remember what they are called. Our rainy season is in the summer and there are daily tropical downpours so I guess this area is perfect for their growth. I'm pleased that you proposed them for the database.

You're welcome Jonna. They are Pachypodium lamerei, I think the smaller one of which you showed a picture by itself might be Pachypodium gaeyi

Hi Jonna! Those are very lovely pictures! Isn't it amazing seeing plants thriving quite well and left to their own nature, grow as big as they can!

Seeing your photos, I just have to share this photo I took while we were visiting the Ruth Bancroft Garden a year ago..enormous flowering stalk from one of the huge succulents there, I'd say one would need a chain saw to remove it when it withers away..

Tarev, we have one of those at the Naples Botanical Garden right now in full bloom. It is VERY tall. Maybe I should take a picture tomorrow.

Oh please do take a photo! I really wanted to see how the bloom actually looks like when it is open!

Well here are three pictures, the full plant with bloom spike



The bloom spike itself



And a closeup of the flower, bees swarming around it.




Unfortunately I don't have a species ID for this Agave, or I could submit these pictures to the Plantfiles.

Thanks Hetty!! They are awesome!

Wow! Beautiful! I've had the big agave bloom in my yard in Calif and it is impressive. The problem with them is that they can take over the garden. I had one that sent shoots over 10' away, when I noticed the new pups I started digging and ended up digging up a good part of the yard.

Yes, my blue agave does that. I only allow the ones that are close to the mother plant to live.

Hello,
I was recently down Florida and saw many agaves like above. I have 2 in pots that I have to bring in for the winter here in Pittsburgh, Pa. They do pup like crazy. they are Agave vivipara (angustifolia) variegate. Make nice house plants as long as you clip the points off with finger nail clippers. I also have a Agave Americana Variegata. It can grow to over 12 ft. tall. I have a picture of one in LA that was that size. In Florida I saw several that was going on 5 ft. tall. I have to look up the LA picture.
Stush

Stush, those are gorgeous!

Maybe next spring you would consider trading some sempervivum for one of your Agave vivipara (angustifolia) variegate pups?

You clip the whole end of the leaf off huh? Interesting...

Hetty,
Those Agave's with the clippings are from a friends' house in Florida. I only trim the very pointy tip. It's hard to notice it but sure doesn't hurt you anymore. They cut into you like crazy. Leaves grow very slowly so it's not hard to keep up with them.
Stush

Yeah, I clip the pointy tips too; this is a bit drastic for my taste...

I kind of like that puff ball look, it's a good idea to cut at least the thorns off if you have them anywhere near a walkway.