Mangave 'Praying Hands' PP34,508 – A unique and attractive solitary succulent that grows to 10 inches tall by as wide having many dark green 8 inch long lanceolate leaves that stay curled upward in a tight rosette, much like an artichoke and with thin reddish-brown leaf margins and terminal spines of the same color that nearly coming together at the top. When young the form of this plant is more rounded but becoming a very unique tear drop shape with age. We have yet to see this newer Mangave cultivar flower.
Plant in full to half day sun in a well-drained soil and give occasional to regular irrigation. Should prove hardy to at least 25° F. With its unique form this makes of an attractive container plant and is equally attractive planted in the garden.
Mangave 'Praying Hands' is a 2021 introduction in the Walters Gardens MAD ABOUT MANGAVE® Collection of plants. It is a hybrid between Mangave 'Bloodspot (itself a presumed hybrid between (Agave macroacantha x Manfreda maculosa) as the seed parent and Agave ocahuii as its pollen parent that was crossed in 2014 by Hans Hansen at Walters Gardens in Zeeland Michigan. Walters Gardens says of 'Praying Hands' on their website: " A brand new and totally different look than what you've seen in Mangave so far!" It received US Plant Patent PP34,508 in August 2022, was awarded the Best Plant at the International Plant Fair (IPM) Essen in 2024 and shortlisted for RHS Chelsea Plant of the Year awards in May 2024.
This is the slowest growing of the Mangave hybrids. So unique was this plant when first released that all of our initial 2022 crop of this interesting plant was shipped to international buyers before they even filled out the pots. Luckily, we were able to restock from laboratory produced (tissue culture) plants from Walters Gardens to continue to sell it domestically after this. The picture on this page courtesy of Walters Gardens.
This information about Mangave 'Praying Hands' PP34,508 displayed is based on research conducted in our horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also will relate observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments that we receive from others and we welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share any cultural information that would aid others in growing it.
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