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| Category: Succulent |
| Family: Agavaceae (now Asparagaceae) |
| Origin: Mexico (North America) |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Flower Color: Green Yellow |
| Bloomtime: Infrequent |
| Height: 3-5 feet |
| Width: 6-8 feet |
| Exposure: Full Sun |
| Summer Dry: Yes |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 0-10° F |
| May be Poisonous (More Info): Yes |
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Agave ovatifolia (Whale's Tongue Agave) - A solitary (non-offsetting) succulent that grows from 2 to 5 feet tall by 3 to 7 feet wide with a rounded rosette of short wide gray leaves that are distinctively cupped. Leaves have small teeth along their margins and a 1 inch long dark gray terminal spine. It has been noted that this plant has stayed smaller in hot dry locations where water has been withheld but responds well to irrigation and grows much larger. When this plant flowers it forms a 10-14 foot tall spike with greenish-yellow flowers. Plant in full sun in a well-drained soil. A drought tolerant plant but it grows considerably larger when given regular irrigation. Has proven hardy down to at least 4-5° F. This Agave occurs naturally at elevations from 3,700 to 7,000 feet in the Sierra de Lampazos in northern Nuevo Leon in northeastern Mexico. It was originally collected and distributed around 1894 by Mrs Anna Nickels as Agave "Noah", but was never properly described or published under this name ("Proposal to reject the name Agave noah (Agavaceae)" in the November 2003 issue of Taxon (52) by Greg Star, José Villarreal, Eduardo Estrada & Manuel de la Rosa). This plant was once synonymized with Agave wislizenii by Trelease in 1911 and more recently included with A. parryi. It was properly described as Agave ovatifolia by Greg Starr and Jose Angel Villareal (STARR G, VILLARREAL JAQ. 2002. "Agave ovatifolia (Agavaceae) Una Nueva Especie De Maguey Del Noreste De Mexico" Sida 20 (2): 495-499). The specific epithet, from the Latin words 'ovatus' for "egg" and 'folius' for "leaves", is in reference to the broad ovate leaves and the common name, whale's tongue agave, also describes the leaf shape. There is speculation that this plant was distributed in California unnamed but there is no documentation on this or information how this plant performs in cultivation in California. As it is similar and related to Agave parryi, the presumption is that it will grow as well as Agave parryi does in cultivation - so far this has proven true. Our original stock plants were purchased from Starr Nursery in 2004. Though we do not still grow this form we do continue to grow a seedling selection called Agave ovatifolia 'Frosty Blue'.
The information about Agave ovatifolia displayed on this web page is based on our research conducted in the nursery's horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also include 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 we receive from others and welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share cultural information that would aid others in growing this plant. |
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