At this time of the year, I consider my poolside Agave ovatifolia as a grounded Christmas Star even though it’s commonly known as Whale’s Tongue. It is one of those architectural plants that can be a focal point in your garden. Mine has a twin on the opposite side of the pool entry. It is smaller and not as old as its sibling. With regular watering and fertilization, it will soon rival its sister in size and stature. I would caution you – too much water and fertilizer may accelerate its life cycle and cause premature blooming and its resultant death.
Agave Ovatifolia is native to northeastern Mexico in the Sierra de Lampazos mountain range nestling in 3,700 to 7,000 feet elevations. There, these agaves are smaller due to the generally dry, arid conditions and the minimal natural rain and snowfall. These winter hardy evergreen succulents can withstand frigid temperatures down to 0 degrees Fahrenheit. The Agave ovatifolia will thrive in USDA Zones 7 – 11.
When siting this agave, you should consider planting it in a south-facing area so that it can catch a healthy dose of sun rays. It can be planted in full sun or light shade. In my opinion, it is preferable that it has some shade during the course of the day. You should avoid planting it near paths or walkways because of its sharp terminal spines. I prune off the spine tips when there is a possibility of danger to humans and pets.
As with all agaves, Ovatifolias like well-draining soil. Personally, I use about 25% pumice in combination with commercially bagged native soil. Some succulent gardeners use soil with a 75% pumice composition. It can get a little expensive to use a higher ratio of pumice in your soil blend if you have many succulents to plant. If you would like to use pumice, I recommend purchasing it from a ranch and farm supply store, like Hawes, here locally. There is a product called Dry Stall that is used for horse stalls; it is pure pumice and relatively inexpensive in comparison to other products on the market. “Horticultural pumice” can sell for up to four times the amount you will pay for a forty-pound bag of Dry Stall.
Ovatifolia comes from Latin, “ovatus” for egg, and “folios” for leaves. It has dense, thick and wide, gray to powdery blue leaves. The leaves are teeth-like on the margins and come to one-inch-long purple terminals. The multiple leaves form a beautiful star-like rosette that, at maturity in eight years, is 3 to 4 feet tall and 4 to 6 feet wide. It is related to the Agave Parryi and, though larger, is similar in appearance.
This succulent has a 10 to 20-year lifespan. As with all agaves, the Ovatifolia will enter its death phase after flowering. It will shoot up a 10 to 15-foot stalk garnished with greenish-yellow flower clusters. The seeds and bulbils, small young plants on the stalk, will enable it to reproduce and introduce a new generation.
It is said that many individuals are responsible for Ovatifolia’s prominence in the United States. Anna Nickels disseminated it in the 1890s as Agave Noah. There are at least two other varieties: larger and deeply channeled leafed Ovatifolia Vanzie and variegated Ovatifolia Orca.
All agaves, including the Ovatifolia are drought tolerant, deer resistant and nearly disease and pest free. This is a great accent plant that will garner a lot of attention in your garden.
Here are some Gardener’s New Year’s Resolutions for consideration:
Photograph or sketch your garden for future garden revisions and identify your current plants.
Replace or reduce your lawn with succulents and native plants.
Add a bird feeder and bee/pollinator plants.
Add raised garden beds for vegetables and herbs.
Create an outdoor office setting with a table and chairs dedicated to your “mental work.”
Join the Red Bluff Garden Club.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
“When you arise in the morning think of what a privilege it is to be alive, to think, to enjoy, to love . . .”
Marcus Aurelius
Red Bluff Garden Club is a member of Cascade District, California Garden Clubs, Inc., Pacific Garden Clubs, Inc., and National Garden Clubs, Inc.
