Mangave Inkblot

Mangave Mangave Inkblot is a unique and highly decorative succulent plant that is part of a series of hybrids resulting from cross-breeding between Manfreda and Agaves. From the agaves, they display a remarkably architectural evergreen vegetation as well as a very perennial temperament, while they have their unique colours, less sharp spines and faster growth from the Manfreda. This Inkblot variety, low and wide, is beautifully speckled with purple on a green-blue background. Drought-resistant but not very hardy, it makes a very attractive plant to grow in a pot on the terrace. In coastal gardens or mild climates, it will thrive in a rockery. 

The Mangave Inkblot belongs to the Agavaceae family, now included by botanists in the much larger Asparagaceae family. This plant develops into a rosette 20 to 30 cm (8 to 12in) tall and 50-60 cm (20-24in) wide, composed of numerous succulent leaves. The long leaves are wide, gutter-shaped, tapered to a point, beautifully curved, and bordered by small, non-prickly cinnamon-coloured spines. Their thick, shiny leaves are green-blue with grey highlights, strongly maculated with purple if the plant is exposed to the sun. Flowers will appear in favourable climates on mature plants, from August to October. From the centre of the rosette emerges a branched flower stalk bearing small white star-shaped flowers. Mangaves are plants for dry, well-drained soil, capable of withstanding brief frosts of around -5 to -7°C (23 to 19.4°F), depending on the variety.  They should be placed in full sun or, at most, partial shade in hot climates. The plant is evergreen.

To create exotic scenes in mild climates, Mangave Mission To Mars can be planted in a rockery, alongside other small agaves such as Agave montana, other differently coloured Mangaves, small agapanthus, or grasses like Carex comans Milk Chocolate or Stipa tenuifolia. Collectors of cacti and other succulent plants can highlight it on the patio or balcony by surrounding it with pots filled with sempervivum.