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Agave stricta nana "Blue form" (young specimen)
Agave stricta nana blue form (was labeled this way) but may be A.
stricta nana 'rubra' (or whatever the name is). The name is so confusing
and the plants on trade and in collections have so many names that it is
almost impossible to say what exactly this plant is. But it is surely
beautiful and charming.
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Description: It is a very small selected plant
that forms a compact spherical rosette, with many stiff, very narrow,
linear leaves. Will form offshoots to create a colony of rosettes.
Rosettes: Individual rosettes with hundreds of thin leaves that grow
very slowly and do not overreach 20 to 30 cm inf height and width.
Leaves: Narrow, needle-like, evergreen, light blue-green that
turn red tints in sun or strong light, roundish in cross-section ,
toothless on the margin, about 10-20 cm long; thick at the base then
narrowing to end in a very sharp spine. |
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Family: Agavaceae
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Scientific name: Agave
stricta nana "blue form"
Origin: Agave stricta is native to the Tehuacan
Valley of southern Puebla and northern Oaxaca in Mexico. This selected cultivar is
probably
of garden origin (Nursery
produced cultivar)
Conservation status: Listed in
CITES appendix 2.
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Cultivation: A. stricta
is a versatile and very hardy plant that can be grown in half-shade to
full-sun. It can take moderate to severe freezes,
and is extremely drought tolerant. In winter
this plant can be watered once every 1-2 months. There is no need to mist
the leaves. Agave stricta is theoretically hardy to -4° C,
particularly when dry.
But
it is best to avoid severe
freezing temperatures. Heat Tolerance: Excellent
Propagation: Relatively
easy to propagate by
suckers (if available). Remove the basal suckers in spring or
summer ,and let the cuttings dry for a few days before inserting in
compost.
Photo of
conspecific taxa, varieties, forms and cultivars of Agave
stricta.
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