Foxtail Agave, Dragon-Tree Agave, Spineless Agave (Agave attenuata)

Foxtail Agave, Dragon-Tree Agave, Spineless Agave
Agave attenuata

Photo courtesy of Ken Blackford. Copyright Ken Blackford. Taken in San Diego.

I've only seen them bloom twice in the bay area. Once, a huge clump in the Oakland hills of all places and the other at the Ruth Bancroft garden grown under the lattice structure.
When I bought mine- it was rare to see them in the bay area. Now,I see them used as street dividers in Hayward. Still,never had mine bloom And two of the stems are over 4',well over a decade old.

There is a clump in San Leandro that blooms, see pic. I had one outside that got all pitted in the cold winter. It might have been when we had hail.

I now have the fancy variegated ones but keep them inside. I can't wait till one of them blooms. I wonder if they will living inside. I want variegated bulbils.

I do have one Agave attenuata 'Ray of Light' outside that did great all last winter though I did toss a covering over it for a few months. It is huge now and so beautiful. Also a Kara's Stripes that lives outside all winter that has done OK. None have bloomed though.

Oh the photo, LOL.

THAT'S San Leandro??..do you have the address? My brother used to live on Stoakes,in the house they named the street after. Across the street they had a big Monstera..the whole area had a soucal vibe with Craftsman homes mixed with Storybook houses. All with many big subtropicals planted. A really great z17 climate.

I am not sure the exact address though I could get there. I went by few weeks taking photos for over a year while it was in bloom. Then the stalk had a 1001 bulbils on them. It was great fun to see it progress. It is off Washington a bit before the shopping center there where Safeway is. Maybe Estabrook? It is between Washington and E. 14th.

Oddly enough the owner took big lava rocks and covered a lot of the border plants. Just put them over the live plants. Last time I went by, the agave was poking thru the small holes between the rocks. I have not been by in a year or so.

Yes, lots of tropicals seem to do well. I have seen huge hibiscus, (the fancy ones) too. Huge cactus.

There is a cool yard over in center of SL that belonged to Inge Hoffmann (sadly she died last year). All palms, cactus and succulents. She planted most of her palms from seed she had collected from all over the world. She has some warm loving palms like Ceroxylon quindiuense and Caryota obtusa that were just huge so they survived for years there.

I actually have many more photos in PFs from her well loved yard but for some reason only a few show up. http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/imagesbyuser.php?user=Kell&offset=0&grep=Inge+Hoffmann&submit=Go

Oh I see you commented on one of her frost free palms. http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/194477/

I just love this one so much! http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/295364/