GardenGateMagazine.com | GARDEN GATE 27
Mangave
Agave x Manfreda
Plant breeders have outdone themselves select-
ing interesting cultivars of this cross between
Agave and Manfreda. Rising from a spiky
rosette, the long, arching succulent leaf blades
often have soft spines on the edges, which
may be straight, wavy or curled. Foliage color
ranges from greens to silvers to blue-greens to
burgundy tinted greens, usually with striking
speckles or stripes that intensify with sunlight.
It really shines when potted in a unique planter.
Give mangave bright light, warm tempera-
tures and a water-soluble succulent fertilizer
once a month during the growing season
and it will grow vigorously. Wet soil in cool
weather is a recipe for disaster, so let it get
dry between watering in winter. In cold zones,
winter mangave over as a houseplant in a
bright, sunny window.Tender perennial Blooms: Infrequent burgundy-brown
or yellow flowers in midsummer Light: Full sun to part
shade Soil: Moist, well-drained Size: 4 to 28 in. tall,
12 to 42 in. wide Cold hardy: USDA zones 7 to 11
Source: Local garden centersTrumpet f lower
Datura metel
Not to be confused with angel’s trumpet
(Brugmansia spp. and hybrids), whose
fl owers dangle downward, trumpet fl ower’s
enormous trumpet-shaped blossoms point
skyward to the moon. This night-blooming
fl ower’s petals unfurl as darkness sets in and
remain open until midday. Each 6- to 8-inch
blossom lasts only a day, but makes the most
of its short life by releasing a sweet fragrance
you’ll love to enjoy in the evening on the
patio, along with many night-fl ying pollina-
tors like the sphinx moth.
Drought-tolerant trumpet fl ower fi lls up a
space quickly with huge, fuzzy leaves. All parts
of trumpet fl ower are toxic, so be extremely
cautious about planting if you have children
or pets. Enjoy the thorny seed pod’s unusual
shape and texture while it’s still green, but cut
it off just before it dries to prevent reseeding.Tender perennial Blooms: White, purple, or yellow
summer through frost Light: Full sun to part shade
Soil: Moist, well-drained, tolerant of poor soils Size:
3 to 4 ft. tall and wide Cold hardy: USDA zones 9 to 10
Source: John Scheeper’s Kitchen Garden Seeds,™
kitchengardenseeds.com, 860-567-6086
PHOTO: Courtesy of John Scheepers Kitchen Garden Seeds/www.kitchengardenseeds.comPHOTO: Courtesy of http://www.PerennialResource.com‘Belle
Blanche’‘King Cobra’GG14922_29_Top Picks.indd 27GG14922_29_Top Picks.indd 27 6/26/2019 9:56:31 AM6/26/2019 9:56:31 AMGardenGateMagazine.com | GARDEN GATE 27
Mangave
Agave x Manfreda
Plant breeders have outdone themselves select-
ing interesting cultivars of this cross between
Agave and Manfreda. Rising from a spiky
rosette, the long, arching succulent leaf blades
often have soft spines on the edges, which
may be straight, wavy or curled. Foliage color
ranges from greens to silvers to blue-greens to
burgundy tinted greens, usually with striking
speckles or stripes that intensify with sunlight.
It really shines when potted in a unique planter.
Give mangave bright light, warm tempera-
tures and a water-soluble succulent fertilizer
once a month during the growing season
and it will grow vigorously. Wet soil in cool
weather is a recipe for disaster, so let it get
dry between watering in winter. In cold zones,
winter mangave over as a houseplant in a
bright, sunny window.Tender perennial Blooms: Infrequent burgundy-brown
or yellow flowers in midsummer Light: Full sun to part
shade Soil: Moist, well-drained Size: 4 to 28 in. tall,
12 to 42 in. wide Cold hardy: USDA zones 7 to 11
Source: Local garden centersTrumpet f lower
Datura metel
Not to be confused with angel’s trumpet
(Brugmansia spp. and hybrids), whose
fl owers dangle downward, trumpet fl ower’s
enormous trumpet-shaped blossoms point
skyward to the moon. This night-blooming
fl ower’s petals unfurl as darkness sets in and
remain open until midday. Each 6- to 8-inch
blossom lasts only a day, but makes the most
of its short life by releasing a sweet fragrance
you’ll love to enjoy in the evening on the
patio, along with many night-fl ying pollina-
tors like the sphinx moth.
Drought-tolerant trumpet fl ower fi lls up a
space quickly with huge, fuzzy leaves. All parts
of trumpet fl ower are toxic, so be extremely
cautious about planting if you have children
or pets. Enjoy the thorny seed pod’s unusual
shape and texture while it’s still green, but cut
it off just before it dries to prevent reseeding.Tender perennial Blooms: White, purple, or yellow
summer through frost Light: Full sun to part shade
Soil: Moist, well-drained, tolerant of poor soils Size:
3 to 4 ft. tall and wide Cold hardy: USDA zones 9 to 10
Source: John Scheeper’s Kitchen Garden Seeds,™
kitchengardenseeds.com, 860-567-6086
PHOTO: Courtesy of John Scheepers Kitchen Garden Seeds/www.kitchengardenseeds.comPHOTO: Courtesy of http://www.PerennialResource.com‘Belle
Blanche’‘King Cobra’