Agave Queen Victoria

BY: Nancy Rose

Agaves are valued landscape plants in dry-climate regions like the Southwest and southern California. Many agaves grow very large, but where space is limited, the charming Queen Victoria agave is the perfect solution. This drought-tolerant plant forms a dense, spherical rosette the size of a basketball. Its fleshy, keeled leaves are dark green to bluish green with distinctive white margins, giving the whole plant the look of carved artwork. It often takes 20 years before Queen Victoria agave blooms, and then it sends up a spectacular 10 to 15 foot tall stalk loaded with hundreds of small cream colored flowers, which often have a purplish tint.

Common name: Queen Victoria agave
Botanical name: Agave victoriae-reginae
Plant type: Evergreen succulent
Zones: 9 to 11; can also be grown in cool greenhouses or conservatories in colder regions
Height: 8 to 14 inches
Family: Agavaceae

Growing conditions
• Sun: Full sun or part-day shade
• Soil: Sandy or gravelly, well-drained
• Moisture: Dry

Care
• Mulch: None
• Pruning: None
• Fertilizer: Rarely needed

Propagation
• Division of basal offsets
• Seeds

Pests and diseases
• Prone to basal rot if overwatered.

Cultivars
• ‘Golden Princess’ has broad yellow leaf margins.
• Selections with broader white leaf margins than the species are often sold under the name ‘Albomarginata’. ‘White Rhino’ and ‘Snow Princess’ are similar.
• ‘Porcupine’ has an especially compact and symmetrical form. May be hardy to Zone 8.

Garden notes
• In colder regions this agave can be grown in a cool (night temperatures 40°F to 50°F) greenhouse or conservatory. Move outdoors after last frost.
• Plant Queen Victoria agave along a front walkway or at the front of xeric planting beds so you can admire its handsome form and pattern.
• Queen Victoria agave is ideal for container planting, either alone or with other xeric plants.

All in the family
• Queen Victoria agave is a member of the agave family (Agavaceae). Some taxonomists have lumped Agavaceae into the much larger Asparagaceae family, but others still treat it as a separate family.
• There are over 200 species of agave. Many are used for xeric landscaping, and several are used to produce tequila and mezcal.

Where to buy
• J&J Cactus and Succulents; www.jjcactus-succulents.net/index.htm
• Plant Delights Nursery; www.plantdelights.com
• Trio Nursery; www.trionursery.com

Comments

By gispa30 Saturday, March 09, 2013 8:19 AM

I have now several hardy agaves ordered from High Country Gardens from out west. We live in Nashville area, Z. 6b-7. I made sure they are growing on an incline in sandy soil. I am also growing some cacti and sedums and hens and chicks. Over one area I put a large plexiglass cover since wetness is often their enemy. Also I put a glass over some of my prickly pears and with one I could notice the difference. It is a more tender prickly pear. Growing side by side, the one covered by a glass is doing fine, the one without the glass simply disintegrated. I was surprised to learn how many different prickly pears there are, including a group called chollas, sort of tree like prickly pears, and hens and chicks. Having to deal every year with summer droughts I thought it might be nice if at least some plants can deal with drought.

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Agave Queen Victoria

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	All About Gardening
Current Articles \| Archives \| Search Agave Queen Victoria BY: Nancy Rose 1 Agaves are valued landscape plants in dry-climate regions like the Southwest and southern California. Many agaves grow very large, but where space is limited, the charming Queen Victoria agave is the perfect solution. This drought-tolerant plant forms a dense, spherical rosette the size of a basketball. Its fleshy, keeled leaves are dark green to bluish green with distinctive white margins, giving the whole plant the look of carved artwork. It often takes 20 years before Queen Victoria agave blooms, and then it sends up a spectacular 10 to 15 foot tall stalk loaded with hundreds of small cream colored flowers, which often have a purplish tint. Common name: Queen Victoria agave Botanical name: Agave victoriae-reginae Plant type: Evergreen succulent Zones: 9 to 11; can also be grown in cool greenhouses or conservatories in colder regions Height: 8 to 14 inches Family: Agavaceae Growing conditions • Sun: Full sun or part-day shade • Soil: Sandy or gravelly, well-drained • Moisture: Dry Care • Mulch: None • Pruning: None • Fertilizer: Rarely needed Propagation • Division of basal offsets • Seeds Pests and diseases • Prone to basal rot if overwatered. Cultivars • ‘Golden Princess’ has broad yellow leaf margins. • Selections with broader white leaf margins than the species are often sold under the name ‘Albomarginata’. ‘White Rhino’ and ‘Snow Princess’ are similar. • ‘Porcupine’ has an especially compact and symmetrical form. May be hardy to Zone 8. Garden notes • In colder regions this agave can be grown in a cool (night temperatures 40°F to 50°F) greenhouse or conservatory. Move outdoors after last frost. • Plant Queen Victoria agave along a front walkway or at the front of xeric planting beds so you can admire its handsome form and pattern. • Queen Victoria agave is ideal for container planting, either alone or with other xeric plants. All in the family • Queen Victoria agave is a member of the agave family (Agavaceae). Some taxonomists have lumped Agavaceae into the much larger Asparagaceae family, but others still treat it as a separate family. • There are over 200 species of agave. Many are used for xeric landscaping, and several are used to produce tequila and mezcal. Where to buy • J&J Cactus and Succulents; www.jjcactus-succulents.net/index.htm • Plant Delights Nursery; www.plantdelights.com • Trio Nursery; www.trionursery.com Related Articles Pink muhly grass When pink muhly grass starts blooming in late summer, it looks like an airy pink cloud arising from the garden. This ornamental native grass grows as ... Poet’s Narcissus Narcissus are classic harbingers of spring. There are hundreds of cultivars of these cheery spring-blooming bulbs, with a big range of flower colors, ... Happy Hues A mixed bag My favorite color all year round is yellow. I love pinks and purples with my yellow daffodils in the spring. I love pinks and reds with m... ‘Bottle Rocket’ ligularia Do you have a damp, shady spot that needs a little drama? ‘Bottle Rocket’ ligularia will provide that in spades with its bold foliage and ... Garden sorrel Garden sorrel is grown for its tangy, edible leaves. Tender young leaves add a lemony bite to fresh salads, and older leaves can be braised or added t... Comments By gispa30 Saturday, March 09, 2013 8:19 AM I have now several hardy agaves ordered from High Country Gardens from out west. We live in Nashville area, Z. 6b-7. I made sure they are growing on an incline in sandy soil. I am also growing some cacti and sedums and hens and chicks. Over one area I put a large plexiglass cover since wetness is often their enemy. Also I put a glass over some of my prickly pears and with one I could notice the difference. It is a more tender prickly pear. Growing side by side, the one covered by a glass is doing fine, the one without the glass simply disintegrated. I was surprised to learn how many different prickly pears there are, including a group called chollas, sort of tree like prickly pears, and hens and chicks. Having to deal every year with summer droughts I thought it might be nice if at least some plants can deal with drought. Post Comment Only registered users may post comments.

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