Aeonium arboreum

$9 (smaller plant) $18 (1 gallon)

One of the largest Aeoniums, this species from Morocco will make quite a statement! Deep green leaves form rosettes to 1' wide on large trunks to 3' or more. Over time, numerous offsets are produced. It will appreciate full sun, not too much heat, and ample water. Although not suited to year-round use in very frosty climates, is it one of the most rewarding, exotic-looking container plants one can grow. Hardy to about 27°F.

Agave bracteosa

$12

If you like Agaves but don't like spines, this is the species for you. 3' wide rosettes of soft, fleshy green leaves look only distantly Agave-like. In total effect it looks sort of like the frost-tender Octopus Agave (A. vilmoriana) in miniature. It is usually solitary, but I have occasionally observed it forming offsets. Although it is found in hot, dry areas in the wild, it is quite happy in cultivation with some moisture and protection from the hot sun. Too much shade, though, and it won't do well in cold, wet winters. Use it in a container or near a water feature. Once established, it can go as low as 15°F, or even as low as 5°F in climates with dry winters.

Agave chrysantha [Pinal Mts, AZ, 6,600'] IB190 - GOLDEN FLOWERED AGAVE NEW Spring 2010!

$12

This Agave is one of the most under-rated for gardeners, in my opinion. Its rather wide, small-toothed leaves go from pale silvery-white in winter to green with pinkish margins in the summer. The rosettes are often solitary, but may form a few offsets. It is very easy to grow and tolerates moisture better than many Agaves. This collection is from 6,600' in the Pinal Mountains near Globe, which is probably about as high as it grows. I will not soon forget the incredible view of canyonlands and rolling open forest from this spot! How large will these plants get? The plants from which I collected had rosettes about 4' wide. However as I drove down the south side of the mountain, plants had increasingly large rosettes, to as wide as 7'! Are the rosettes smaller because they are higher up and more exposed, or is there some genetic difference? I wouldn't be at all surprised to see plants from this collection grow 7' wide or more in a sheltered spot, with some summer water. These plants should be hardy to at least 0°F, maybe lower once they get some size.

Agave montana

$10

Discovered only a few years ago high in Mexico's Sierra Madre Oriental, this fabulous large Agave is still just making its way into cultivation and remains rare. The large, toothy green leaves create white impressions in the surrounding leaves as they expand. Over time it can be expected to make a large globe to perhaps 5' wide of rather compact habit. In the wild, it grows in open pine forests as high as 10,000', where it is subjected to heavy frosts and snow. Thus, it is excellently suited to the climate of western Washington, provided drainage is adequate, and it can even tolerate partial shade. In eastern Washington, it easily survives 0°F but is very unhappy about hot, dry summers without irrigation. If all that weren't enough, it is the only Agave native to Montana! Everyone in Wyoming is so jealous. Not really.

Agave palmeri IB57 NEW Spring 2010!

$8

This toothy green Agave is widely distributed throughout moister areas of southern Arizona, and adjacent New and Old Mexicos. It is usually considered to be the largest Agave native to the United States, with rosettes sometimes reaching 8' across. (A. chrysantha in the Pinal Mountains may be just as large, though!) Like A. chrysantha, to which it is closely related, this species is very easy to grow and prefers more moisture than many Agaves. In fact, it tends to grow larger in the wild in cooler areas with more rainfall. This collection from the west side of the Chiricahua Mountains, Arizona at 5,450' has green rosettes to about 5' wide and represents the species pretty well. Hardy to about -5°F.

Agave parryi var. huachucensis

$10

This form of Agave parryi from the Huachuca Mountains of southern Arizona differs from the typical form in being larger overall, reaching 4' across with many more leaves per rosette. It often has a more dusky blue-grey color than the typical form. Unfortunately it's not quite as cold hardy, reaching its lower limit in the neighborhood of 5°F.

Agave salmiana var. ferox NEW Spring 2010!

$12

Wow! This behemoth of an Agave is truly one of the most impressive garden plants one can grow. Its monster rosette of grey green leaves with hefty spines produces occasional offsets. Ultimately reaching dimensions of 12' wide or more, it needs a large space and should be surrounded by plants of similar scale not to be an overwhelming figure in the cactus garden. Hardiness reports vary anywhere from about 5°F on up to 20°F - this may owe to differences in provenance or to the possibility that many plants considered to be this species are actually a form of A. protamericana, which is much hardier. But if you don't want to risk it, it's still an impressive container specimen, and produces plenty of offsets which can be saved as insurance against a cold winter.

Echeveria runyonii [Porma Segunda?] NEW Spring 2010!

$12

Could it be? A hardy Echeveria? Perhaps not quite, but this species is about as close as one can get. It was collected near the top of some really high mountain in Mexico - though I can't now recall the details on this story - and is expected to handle temperatures down to about 15°F - perhaps lower? We don't know yet. In appearance it is rather similar to many of the tender Echeverias, forming tight clumps of glaucous, silvery rosettes, and producing generous quantities of yellow flowers on pink stalks in late spring. "Porma Segunda" is a name that came with this plant; it may refer to a locality, or to something else, but I can't find out anything about it. When I get a chance I'll have to ask the folks at Cistus Nursery who were kind enough to share this with me.

Graptopetalum paraguayense NEW Spring 2010!

$8

Here's a plant we like to offer that actually isn't that rare - being one of those pass-along succulents that Grandma has kept going since the dawn of time. But that doesn't mean it isn't cool - what's not to like about chunky little glaucous leaves that assume a purplish cast in the sun? And it's extremely easy to grow, tolerating sun or shade, and moist or dry soil, as long as it isn't too soggy. The exciting part is that under the right conditions it can actually overwinter outdoors in the Pacific Northwest, though it will freeze to the ground in all but the mildest winters. For this to succeed it needs excellent drainage, protection from an overhead canopy, and some sort of mulch (one Portland area gardener I know of was quite successful growing it under a small pine). And of course it is a piece of cake to propagate from either stem or leaf cuttings, should you desire to save a piece for insurance. It's hard to give an exact hardiness rating, but anywhere that the ground does freeze very much, or very deeply, it should overwinter successfully, including much of the South.

Yucca madrensis

$14

A Yucca even your madre would love. Closely related to Y. schottii, but originating in the spectacular mountains surrounding Barranca del Cobre National Park, Mexico, this species ire relatively new on the scene: until very recently, this Yucca has been nearly unavailable in US cultivation outside of a few botanic gardens in the Southwest. It will form a stout trunk with broader, strap-like leaves than most Yuccas, and is often found growing in the shade and in rather moist situations in the wild. Like Y. schottii, it seems very vigorous and usually bluer in cultivation than in the wild. Its hardiness is unknown but somewhere around 0 - 10°F seems probable - perhaps lower. Be among the first to try this rare Yucca in your garden!

Yucca schottii IB206 NEW Spring 2010!

$14

"Mountain Yucca" is a species from relatively wet, mountainous areas of southeast Arizona, southwest New Mexico and adjacent northern Mexico, that deserves more attention. A tall and stately plant to 20' with a symmetrical crown of sharp-tipped leaves, it is still rare in cultivation but should be very adaptable, handling partial shade (though best in full sun), cold temperatures, and moisture. Although the leaves are usually blue-green in the wild, all plants I have seen in cultivation have blue leaves. It thrives in Seattle, and its symmetrical form and screaming blue color are unparalleled. It has recently been reclassified as Y. madrensis but I think I will stick with the name Y. schottii for now to avoid confusion. This collection from the Atascosa Mountains, Arizona, represents exceptionally robust plants with very long leaves. This form should be hardy to at least 0°F, perhaps lower. It's hard to choose, but this is my favorite Yucca, and, with some summer water, probably the best really large Yucca for the Seattle area.

Yucca schottii IB213 NEW Spring 2010!

$14

In the Chiricahua Mountains of Arizona, Yucca schottii can be found at the amazing altitude of 8,200'! This collection from 7,950' (the highest point where I could find one with seeds) should tolerate temperatures to at least -15°F. Limited Supply. DS. (Packet of 20 seeds)

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