Agave bracteosa ‘Calamar’ ‘The Squid Agave’

Description

Agave bracteosa ‘Calamar’ known as the ‘Squid Agave’ is a rare agave originating from Mexico in the Coahuilan Desert where it grows on limestone cliffs between 3,000 and 5,500 feet high. Agave bracteosa  ‘Calamar’ differs from the species by have a more pronounced arching arching habit giving a stronger impression of squid or octopus tentacles the narrow leaves are also a deeper green almost bluish colour when well grown. What we really like too is it’s lack of any spines or spiky parts being quite a cuddly little succulent a rare thing amongst Agave species. Great for containers or front of border planting the ‘Squid Agave’ rarely grows higher than 40cm with a spread of around 60cm the plants slowly forming clumps as they age. Another interesting feature is the flowering spike produced on mature plants reaching 100-150cm high densely covered in dainty white flowers packed with nectar, the flowers quiet unlike any other Agave. What I haven’t mentioned is that this is probably one of the hardiest Agaves available to gardeners here, tolerating temperatures below minus 10 degrees centigrade given a free draining compost and sunny position.

So in essence a rewarding Agave, easy to grow showing remarkable hardiness and being spineless suitable for planting in a wide range of positions where it’s more spiky cousins would be downright dangerous.