Thanks Baja but they look the same to me except the size. And I think you answered my question. If it pups, then it must be compacta.
BTW, forgot to say how nice that Snow Glow is pictured with compacta. I heard they don't pup or do they don't often pup much?
Karen, After 15 years, yours must be compacta as well?

Maybe so, but I don't really know. They do stay pretty small. I read somewhere that they can take 30 to 40 years to bloom, so I probably won't see it happen with mine.

I would say that's probably an upper limit. The genus has been prone to exaggeration throughout its history (eg. "century plant"). I think the actual lifespan probably depends on climate and care. And container plants are in a different league, especially when limited by the container size. All that said, the Queen Vic agaves are definitely on the slow side for the genus.

Stush, "Snow Glow" and "Sun Glow" are both variegated sports of "Blue Glow", which does offset in a limited way. I have no experience with the variegated plants, but I can imagine they would occasionally pup.

I had a funny experience yesterday that you agavephiles might appreciate. The security guy in this parking lot for a restaurant was totally bored, so he joined me while I was shaking seeds out of the capsules on an Agave attenuata inflorescence. This very plant, actually: The seeds are not nearly as interesting or spectacular as the flowers.



Anyway, I was showing him the seeds (which include light brown duds and black fertile seeds) and he shrugged and told me "somebody needs to water that plant." Because it was quite obviously turning brown and dying. Not everyone even realizes that most agaves die when they flower.

I decided the chances were too high that plant self-pollinated or was pollinated by the americanas nearby to actually save the seeds and plant them.

Shame when you see the first sign of a flower spike, it's done for the mother plant. She did her job.

At least that's not the case for all agaves. Some of them can bloom every year.

Yes, but do you see how those grow. Multi growing points. Closer looking like yuccas. which also die after flowering except the tree form. Same multi growing points. Like sanseveria, central growing point, flower, die.

The only Sans I have at the moment flowered and stopped growing new leaves years ago, so now it's a pup factory. Which is actually perfect because space is limited by the window and I am more than happy to remove offsets whenever the situation gets congested.

Karen, I am curious which agaves bloom every year. The Manfredas maybe? I have almost no experience with that group.

The only repeat blooming agaves I know of (sensu stricto) are the ones like mitis or stricta which make axillary branches. Even my "Bloodspot" did that. But those new heads take quite a bit of time to reach flowering size.

It is interesting to compare all the different members of this family as to what happens after they flower.

My first up-close experience with a dragon tree (Dracaena draco) flower was this production, which halted the elaboration of new leaves for over a year



but the tree has since branched 8 or 10 times from the base of that inflorescence. In some senses (like timing and outcome) it's not too different from those branching agaves.

You are correct, Baja. I misspoke when I said that. I had my Aloes in my head when I was envisioning lots of bloom stalks.

They're already looking better if I do say so myself

At purchase:




Today:

I always had luck with seeds so I'm starting some Agave parry and Agave Titanota "Blue" Alabaster White. They look very blue on ebay but I too know how to add more blue to pictures. I only want one or possible two of each so hopefully next year I'll be giving them out. I'll post pictures when I start and progress. Unless the seeds are sterile in such case, I'll say so as well.

mcvansoest said:I would test how well rooted the in the ground plant is. Just grab the upright central leaves and give them a good shake and a little tug. If it feels solidly rooted then it is probably just something to do with the location and/or the soil the plant is in. If it is not solidly rooted then you will want to inspect the plant for any kind of insect infestation around the roots. If it looks clean you will probably want to stick it in a pot and give it a little more shade to see if it recovers.

I'm back to the land of the electronically living again. Computer problems resolved. Anyhow, tested the plant as you suggested. It is rooted well. So my guess is it hates its location or soil. I'm going to see if it does a little better since we just good a good rain again last night and the temps are cooling down.

If there's still no improvements in about 2 or 3 weeks I'll have to dig it up and check the roots and if o.k. just pot it and put it in the back yard on the patio where it can receive some shade part of the day.

I have some Agave in my collection but not much photo of them

Bobbi, nice markings on your Queen Vic. You have the perfect weather for them.

Here a couple I planted early Spring that made it through the summer OK:

Agave nigra aka 'Sharkskin' and Agave ovatifolia with some faint variegation:

My newest addition to my agave family. How can something so tiny and soft turn into a monster in a few years?

The picture is gone for good but I found the nagitive and had a picture made. Took a few weeks to get it but was under a dollar to do.
Still not quite what I remembered it to be but still maybe the biggest agave to date;



If I stood on that sidewalk, I would come up to half of that plant. We only had a second to do this and not even enough time to take a second picture. I promised the drive I was going to take one picture and he didn't even wanted me to do that. He was scared to death of the neighborhood. I though it looked pretty nice to me. Said his bus was not bullet proof.

Forgot to add; Agave parry seeds are sprouting and got 9 out of 10 so far. The Agave Titanota "Blue" Alabaster White are still in the mail and have to ask where they are.

Most people would call that Agave americana variegata, but it is possible that it is actually a variegated form of Agave mapisaga. A. americana can get big, but not really that big... is the argument that people make to suggest it is mapisaga instead. However, I have seen some regular americanas at Boyce Thompson Arboretum that were pretty close to 9-10 feet tall, in part because the made a bit of a trunk...

So it could just be a variegated americana in ideal growing conditions... the pups surrounding it would certainly argue for that.