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| Category: Succulent |
| Family: Agavaceae (now Asparagaceae) |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Flower Color: Brown |
| Bloomtime: Summer |
| Synonyms: [Agave gracillima, A. gracilis, Polianthes rosei] |
| Height: <1 foot |
| Width: 2-3 feet |
| Exposure: Full Sun |
| Summer Dry: Yes |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 25-30° F |
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Manfreda elongata - A soft-leafed evergreen succulent with open rosettes of four long wavy green leaves that emerge from a 4 inch tall stem and then recurve to lay flat to the ground. The leaves are 12 to 20 inch long by 2 inches wide with deep longitudinal channels and closely spaced veins. The dark green-brown flowers have protruding anthers and long styles near the top of the inflorescence that rises up to 3 to 4 feet tall. Plant in full sun with occasional irrigation. Listed as hardy to around 25°F but perhaps less. This plant's current correct name is apparently Agave gracillima. The plant was originally collected in 1897 by Joseph Nelson Rose in a narrow valley on the west side of the east range of the Sierra Madre in southern Durango, Mexico but also inhabits locations in the state of Nayarit to the south. Rose described it as Manfreda elongata in 1903 but is was called Agave gracilis by Alwin Berger in 1915. Since this plant has no relationship to Agave elongata (a synonym for Agave angustifolia and sometimes listed as a synonym for Agave atrovirens) as described by Georg Albano von Jacobi in 1865, when moved from Manfreda to the genus Agave, the name Agave gracilis took precedence. Confusing enough but this plant has been all around and was even once placed with the tuberose as Polianthes rosei. For all familiar with the Manfreda group, this plant will long be called by the original name of Manfreda elongata. Our seed for this plant from Aloe hybridizer John Bleck who grew his flowering plant from seed from the Cactus and Succulent Society of America (CSSA) seed list.
The information on this page is based on our research that has been conducted on this plant in our nursery library, from online sources, and from observations made of the crops growing in the nursery, plants in the nursery's garden and those in other gardens where we have observed it. We also have incorporated comments received from others and welcome getting feedback from those who may have additional information, particularly if this information includes cultural information that would aid others in growing Manfreda elongata. |
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