Manfreda maculosa
Horticultural Data | Shipping & Availability | Top
Makes a nice textural accent plant and even as a medium height ground cover for dry areas. Great in containers where the leaves can drape over the side of the pot. Does well in dry dappled shade under open trees. Great in xeriscape and succulent gardens.
succulent gardens
Manfreda maculosa forms a rosette of fleshy, one-foot long green leaves, which are attractively spotted with purple. Leaves are narrow and often lie flat with the ground. It quickly spreads by underground rhizomes. In late spring, the clumps are topped with 3’-5′ tall flower spikes resembling single tuberoses. The flowers are fragrant and open creamy white but age to rosy red on subsequent days. Large green seedpods follow the flowers. The flowers are attractive to nectar seeking insects and birds. In its native habitat young flower stalks are tasty bites for small mammals, javelina, and deer which can end the flowering effort for that season.
Chopped rhizomes of Manfreda maculosa were once used as a source of soap and shampoo in Texas. Caterpillars of the rare Manfreda Giant Skipper (Stallingsia maculosa) depend on this plant as a food source. Manfreda will hybridize with plants in the genus Polianthes.
This plant is very hardy but it will go deciduous in harsh freezes.
Horticultural Data
Description | Horticultural Data | Shipping & Availability |
Names and Synonyms: Agave strictata, Agave maculosa, Polianthes maculosa
Common Names: Texas Tuberose, Rattlesnake Agave, Spice Lily, Deciduous Agave
Family: Agavaceae
Origin: Southern Texas and northerneastern Mexico
Size Label: 1 gallon
Height: 6-10″
Width: 12-24″
Cold Tolerance: 0 to 5°F, -17.8 to -15°C
Heat Tolerance: Very high heat tolerance
Light Requirement: Shade to full sun along the coast.
Water needs: Very drought tolerant but it looks best when watered and when the soil is allowed to dry out between waterings. In extreme drought the plant will lose its leaves.
Maintenance: Remove spent flower spikes and dead leaves if desired.
Uses: Makes a nice textural accent plant and even as a medium height ground cover for dry areas. Great in containers where the leaves can drape over the side of the pot. Does well in dry dappled shade under open trees. Great in xeriscape and succulent gardens.
Propagation: Plants can be propagated by root division or seed.
Research Links:
http://www.smgrowers.com/products/plants/plantdisplay.asp?plant_id=3134
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/64508/
http://plantlust.com/plants/manfreda-maculosa/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manfreda_maculosa
Shipping & Availability
Description | Horticultural Data | Shipping & Availability |
There is a minimum purchase of any 4 plants for online orders. All plants shipped bare root. Other sizes may be available for pick up from our growing grounds in Fallbrook, CA. For more information, give us a call at 760-990-4762.
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