drought resistant perennials

Bluebell Giants – Our new agave hybrids

Agave x protoamericana     Agave salmiana var. ferox ‘Bellville’ One of the fun projects our JLBG research division has been working on for several years is breeding for winter hardy century plants. One of our latest crosses is between the two plants pictured above, Agave x protoamericana (blue) and Agave salmiana var. ferox ‘Bellville’

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30′ tall Flowering Agave – a pollinators dream

It’s been absolutely amazing to watch the swarm of honeybees, ants, and hummingbirds feeding on our giant 30′ tall flowering agave.  Here’s an updated photo of the blessed event from yesterday.  This weekend’s final summer open house is the last chance to see it in person.  

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Giant Agave flowering

Here’s our research staff getting the giant ladder in place for breeding as the giant Agave salmiana x asperrima begins to open. And here’s Jeremy, who heads up our Research Division, gathering pollen and making crosses.  Breeding agaves is a little different from breeding daylilies, iris, and hostas. We hope you’ll join us during our summer

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Giant agave flower spike ready to open

The flower spike on our giant Agave salmiana x asperrima is timed perfectly for our Summer Open Nursery and Garden.  We measured the spike on this 15 year old monster this morning at a whopping 29′ tall.  The actually opening of the flowers should start around Friday and will continue for several weeks.  We hope

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Agave ‘Grey Gator’ flower spike peaking @ JLBG

Here’s a current photo of our spiking Agave ‘Grey Gator’.  The spike began four weeks ago today, and was measured yesterday at 22′ in height.  The bracts that surround the flower spikes are just beginning to unfurl, so we’re probably a couple of weeks from seeing flowers open. This is the largest of the winter

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Giant agave flowering spike starting

From high above our Southwest patio garden, you can get a good perspective of our latest agave to flower.  This cross of Agave salmiana and Agave asperrima (scabra) is our largest agave to ever flower (7′ tall x 12′ wide).  We’re expecting the spike to reach at least 25′ before it begins to open in

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Two favorite agaves – Agave bracteosa and Agave ovatifolia

The Agaves are looking great in the garden today as we start our Fall Open Nursery and Garden.  Here are two of my favorites as they look today…the spineless Agave bracteosa (top) that looks like a stiff green squid, and the magnificent Agave ovatifolia. (botttom) Both of these were brought into the US from Mexico

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