Agave ovatifolia

Description

Agave ovatifolium better known as the ‘Whales Tongue Agave’ is a spectacular medium sized agave originating from arid zones of Southern United States and Mexico. With broad grey – green leaves edged and tipped with dark purplish thorns and spikes Agave ovatifolium is highly ornamental and architectural in fact once seen as a mature specimen I’d be amazed if you didn’t feel the need to add one of these to your life. Capable of reaching 150cm high and wide whilst tolerating heavy frosts and freezing conditions when dry, this agave is well worth trying year-round outdoors in milder parts of the U.K.  The Whales Tongue agave is also reasonably fast growing, rapidly developing into a spectacular specimen, given free draining soil with preferably a deep gravel mulch to rest on. In colder regions grow your agave in a container where it can be moved to safety during the worst of winter. A pretty much essential agave for any lovers of agaves and succulents.

As with all gave worth growing outside in the U.K unless you have a very mild or dry micro-climate I always recommend building a roof over the top of treasured agave plants in winter. Simply hammer in 4 stakes around the agave a fix a clear plastic ‘roof’ onto the top of each stake above the agave leaving the sides clear allowing wind to pass through the leaves. Alternately we recommend growing in a pot in full sun from April to the end of October depending on the weather and moving it to a greenhouse, conservatory or even shed for the winter where it can have protection from freezing and wet. No watering will be needed from November to March.