Pamela: The x Polifreda (polianthes x manfreda) are in flower here now and are quite interesting. These are still on trial and have not yet been released to the market. I look forward to trying the new horticultural menage-a-trois x Polimangaves (agave x (polianthes x manfreda) from breeder Jon Lindstrom. From a breeding point of view, this is quite fascinating. Jim mentioned the lumping of manfreda, agave, and polianthes, with which I do not agree. One of the confusing factors is that some new species of "agaves" were published from cultivated collections in Europe which turned out to be x Mangaves and not Agaves. The fact that agaves are monocarpic and evergreen while manfredas are decidious and non-monocarpic should surely be enough to retain separate genera. Just because they cross doesn't make them the same genera...except to some taxonomists who insist that if they do cross, this constitutes lumping the genera. Wait until they see the new x Velox...a cross of Verbena and Phlox (reportedly a result of protoplast fusion)....we're talking different families. That should turn the taxonomists on their heads. Tony Avent Plant Delights Nursery @ Juniper Level Botanic Garden 9241 Sauls Road Raleigh, North Carolina 27603 USA Minimum Winter Temps 0-5 F Maximum Summer Temps 95-105F USDA Hardiness Zone 7b email tony@plantdelights.com website http://www.plantdelights.com/ phone 919 772-4794 fax 919 772-4752 "I consider every plant hardy until I have killed it myself...at least three times" - Avent Pamela Slate wrote: > Jim, > I grow a Manfreda Agave cross that is marketed as Mangave 'Macho Mocha,' a very > tough and handsome plant. It's foliage and flowers have Manfreda > characteristics but unlike Agave spp., it is not monocarpic. Obviously, this > isn't a cold climate but a hot one and these plants thrive here. However, the > Manfreda parentage makes them prime rabbit food and I must use them as > container plants. For a photo and much more info on this plant, see: > http://smgrowers.com/products/plants/… > 921&page= > > If this doesn't exactly answer your question, at least it's more information, > including an observation from our member Tony Avent who has reported the plants > have survived at 9 degrees F. I would think you could grow it successfully > though you might need mulch and/or frost cloth in some winters. > > I'd like to grow Polianthes and would love to see the hybrids that have been > produced from the Southeast - if anyone knows more about sources for them, > please let me know. (I'm familiar with the products at Yucco Do). > > Thanks, > > Pamela Slate > Carefree AZ > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: pbs-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:pbs-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org] On > Behalf Of Jim McKenney > Sent: Monday, June 08, 2009 12:49 PM > To: 'Pacific Bulb Society' > Subject: [pbs] Agave virginica > > My plants of Agave (Manfreda) virginica have finally put on some size, and I > check them daily for signs of bloom (no signs yet, but it’s early). > > > > These are the oddest plants. Although at first glance they look like some > sort of xerophytic plant, when you touch them there is a surprise: the > foliage looks as if it ought to be turgid, but instead it’s floppy and > rubbery. More than anything else it reminds me of a plant whose root system > has rotted and whose leaves are flagging. > > > > Are any of you growing the Polianthes – Manfreda hybrids or the Polianthes – > Agave hybrids in cold climates? > > > > Jim McKenney > > jimmckenney@jimmckenney.com > > Montgomery County, Maryland, USA, 39.03871º North, 77.09829º West, USDA zone > 7 > > My Virtual Maryland Garden http://www.jimmckenney.com/ > > BLOG! http://mcwort.blogspot.com/ > > > > Webmaster Potomac Valley Chapter, NARGS > > Editor PVC Bulletin http://www.pvcnargs.org/ > > > > Webmaster Potomac Lily Society http://www.potomaclilysociety.org/ > > > > > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > pbs mailing list > pbs@lists.ibiblio.org > http://pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php > http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/ > > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com/ > Version: 8.5.339 / Virus Database: 270.12.56/2161 - Release Date: 06/08/09 > 12:30:00 > > _______________________________________________ > pbs mailing list > pbs@lists.ibiblio.org > http://pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php > http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/ > >