Plant of the Week
Queen Victoria Agave (Agave victoriae reginae)
Native to the Chihuahuan desert, Queen Victoria agave is also a great one for our area, especially since it's hardy to 10º. Although it has very sharp terminal spines at the end of each leaf, it doesn't have side teeth, so that makes it a very nice agave in gardens for people walking around it. It doesn't poke you in the shin and it doesn't get any of your children while they're running around.
It's a very compact agave, only 18' wide and tall, with tightly rosette leaves. It's also very slow growing. They may be a little more expensive, if they're larger, because they're actually very old.
It needs very little water, but it also needs very well-drained soil and full sun.
Don't use any organic mulch around it because that can rot it. If you do use organic mulch, make sure it's well away from the plant.
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