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Welcome to the Spotted Manfreda - the "Leopard Agave"! This rare Agave relative was discovered in the hills of west-central Mexico. Its funky leaves have awesome maroon spots that almost seem intended for us gardeners! Manfredas are basically tuberous Agaves that can go deciduous in winter. The species name of this one hasn't been determined. Its fleshy leaves are completely without thorns or sharp edges, and no two have the same pattern of spots. This is a must-have for collectors of cool plants! The Leopard Manfreda forms a rosette of smooth, bluish-green leaves up to 18 inches long and 3 inches wide. The leaves tend to curve up at the edges, sometimes with a wavy margin. The foliage lacks the spines found in many other Agave family plants, so it's a lot "friendlier" in the garden! The plants multiply into offsets, eventually forming a large, colorful grouping. In summer, the plants send up towering, 6 foot tall flower spikes, which hummingbirds love. You might be able to cross-breed this species with some Agave, Polianthes, and related plants. The Leopard Manfreda comes from the area around Guadalajara, Mexico, where the climate is a bit milder than the lowland deserts. It has handled temperatures in the upper 80s (31 degrees C) here in California, but i have no information on how it will do in hotter conditions, so consider it experimental in hot climates. The tubers are probably hardy to the low-20s (-5 degrees C). The plant grows nicely in a pot in well-draining soil such as cactus mix. While its fairly drought tolerant, the leaves look the best when the soil is kept lightly moist. It enjoys full sun, but some afternoon shade might be needed in hot conditions. Overall, this is an easy plant. The summer flowers
Germination tips for this plant
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