Agave montana

Agave montana, the Mountain Agave, is found at elevations to 3000m in the northeastern states of Tamaulipas, Nuevo León and Querétaro in Mexico, where it grows on the highest slopes amongst mixed open forest predominantly of Quercus miquihuanensis, Pinus hartwegii and junipers together with Arbutus xalapensis and some Buddleja cordata. At these elevations, there is often cool moist cloud and temperatures are cool-to-warm in the summer - with summer being the wettest season. In the winter, frost and snow are not uncommon. It is one of the coldest climates in Mexico and has a comparatively high rainfall. Agave montana is thus more suited to the vagaries of the British climate than most Agaves.

Agave montana is a particularly handsome Agave with a very symmetrical rosette of dark green leaves usually covered with a pale frosting of whitish bloom and carrying on their lower surfaces the distinct impressions of the thorny leaf margins of the previous outer leafbud. These thorns and the strong terminal thorn are a contrasting reddish brown.

Although Agave montana is more capable of tolerating that bane of xeric gardening - winter wet - than most Agaves, nontheless, its tolerances should not be taken for granted and all usual guidelines and precautions when growing Agaves outdoors in the UK should be followed. Long extended periods of sub-zero temperatures or freezing fog are more challenging than anything it experiences in Mexico and there is no glory in pitting yourself against Nature and failing. I am a strong believer in additional winter protection for plants if it means I get to enjoy their continuing company through to the following Spring. Good drainage and common sense are essential ! Sometimes - particularly in cold inland parts of the country - that will mean additional protection with fleece.