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Furcraea foetida 'Mediopicta Sport' - This is a sport that occurred in the tissue culture process on the plant we grow as Furcraea foetida 'Mediopicta'. Like 'Mediopicta' this plant is a trunkless succulent that can reach a size of 5 feet tall with an 8-foot spread with green 4- to 7-foot-long wavy sword-shaped leaves that lack any spines. This form has a narrow, more yellow band down the middle of the leaf. The flower stalk reaching to 25 feet tall produces strongly scented greenish-white flowers attractive to bees. Flowers are followed by small plants that cover the inflorescence as the basal plant dies.
It performs best in full coastal sun or filtered light and should be watered infrequently. Some sources list this plant as hardy to USDA zone 9a (20-25° F) but we believe it would require protection in zones lower than 9b (20-25° F). The similar looking Furcraea selloa var marginata is slightly hardier.
This laboratory produced plant was first received by us in 2006. It was interesting and attractive but was not as showy as those we grew from bulbils off of flowering Furcraea foetida 'Mediopicta' and we discontinued producing it in 2019.
This information about Furcraea foetida 'Mediopicta Sport' displayed is based on research conducted in our horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also will relate observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments that we receive from others and we welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share any cultural information that would aid others in growing it.
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