Agave montana

Name: Agave montana - Mountain Agave
Brand: The Palm Centre
SKU: AGM
Rating: 4.80 (5 reviews)

Mountain Agave

Rated 4.80 out of 5 based on 5 customer ratings

(5 customer reviews)

From: £99.00

The Mountain Agave is a truly stunning architectural arid plant, particularly close to our hearts as we played a part in its introduction to UK cultivation.

Agave montana is an evergreen perennial succulent that forms a rosette of deep green leaves marked with a white patina and edged with pale thorns that lead to red spines at the tip.

Item code:: AGM-7
Pot size:: 25cm pot
Description:: diameter of 30/35cm

£99.00

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Item code:: AGM-12
Pot size:: 28cm pot
Description:: diameter of 40/50cm

£139.95

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Origin: Tamaulipas, North East Mexico

Genus: Agave

Species / Cultivar: Montana

Common Name: Mountain Agave

Plant Biography

Native to Mexico where it grows high in the mountainous regions, exposed to cooler and moister air that most agaves can withstand.

This native habitat makes the Mountain Agave one of the most suitable agaves for the UK climate, being known to survive British winters without any protection.

Older leaves form distinctive tooth-mark like imprints on the adjacent younger leaves, creating one of the attractive hallmarks of this species.

Soil: Well drained

Soil that does not show much signs of moisture, either visibly or when handled.

Growth Rate: Slow

This plant is particularly slow to grow, even during growing season.

Water Requirement: Low

Will grow in a drier position and is unlikely to need regular watering once established.

Maintenance: Low

Minimal skill or input needed beyond the basics, a very independent plant.

Situation: Full Sun

Wants direct, unfiltered sunlight most of the day, such as a south facing position.

Eventual Height: 1m

The plant's ultimate height in typical growing conditions.

Eventual Spread: 1m

The plant's ultimate spread in typical growing conditions.

Hardiness: Fully Hardy

Will survive unprotected outdoors in most areas of the UK, even in the harshest winters.

Habit: Evergreen

Always in leaf throughout the year. It won't lose all its leaves at any one time.

Expert Tip

As the Mountain Agave matures the red colouring of the terminal spines becomes more prominent.

Care & Size Guidance

Agave montana likes a position in full sun with good drainage, and we recommend adding gravel and mulch around the base when planted in the ground. When happy, they’re one of the fastest growing agaves in the UK climate.

Whilst Agave montana is hardier than most Agaves, in especially cold frosts we do recommend giving them protection.

The Mountain Agave has not been in cultivation in the UK for long enough to assess how well it flowers, but in the wild it produces large panicles of small clustered yellow flowers.

As an amateur gardener with no experience of growing Arid plants, I was grateful to receive excellent advice over the phone from Toby in advance of our visit. Easy to find a helpful member of staff who gave us clear directions on where to find an Agave Montana.

Caroline Fahey

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