Mangave Silver Fox

Mangave Silver Fox is a particularly bright succulent plant, covered with a thick wax layer that gives it a superb silver-grey appearance. It is part of a series of hybrids resulting from cross-breeding between Manfreda and Agaves, selected in the USA. 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.  Resistant to drought but not very hardy, it makes a beautiful specimen to grow in a pot on the patio. In coastal gardens or mild climates, it will thrive in a rockery. 

Mangave Silver Fox belongs to the Agavaceae family, now included by botanists in the much larger Asparagaceae family. This plant develops quite rapidly into a  rosette 30 cm (12in) tall and 40 cm (16in) wide, composed of numerous succulent leaves. They are very wide, shaped like gutters, tapering to a point, and edged with non-prickly teeth. Their thick lamina is light green but covered with a thick almost white wax film. The foliage will be even lighter 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.

With its appearance of a large silver sempervivum, Mangave Silver Fox will make a sensation in a rockery, and in gardens spared by heavy frosts. It can be associated, for example, with other differently coloured Mangaves, Euphorbia myrsinites, Ajuga or sedums. Collectors of cacti and other succulent plants can showcase it on the patio or balcony, in a beige or brick pot, surrounded by sempervivums. It will make an impression there!