chuckt2007's Identifications

Agave ovatifolia x flexispina 'Blue Rapture'

The Agave ovatifolia was in my garden, and received the Agave flexispina pollen from Juniper Level Botanic Garden via its proprietor, Tony Avent.

Hand made Agave hybrids

• help identify in situ wild hybrids
• increase the diversity of plants for horticulture

• reduce some of the collection pressure on wild agaves
  - - - - -
  https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/mjpapay/88638-agave-pseudosalmiana

Agave lechuguilla x asperrima

A clone of a plant (HBG 28203 MK & GL 1318) at the Huntington Botanic Garden, shared from an acquisition from HBG by Tony Avent, Juniper Level Botanic Garden (JLBG-203).

2nd photo shows rhizomatous clone emerging, with the glaucous color and asperous (sandpapery) leaves of Agave asperrima. Also present are the dark stripes of Agave lechuguilla on the back of the central spear, and leaves. The traits of Agave asperrima disappear as the plant matures, as evidenced in the green, smooth-surface of the leaves in the 1st photo.

Hybrids that involve Agave lechuguilla have

• dark stripes on the back of the central spear
• small teeth between large teeth on the margins of the leaf; 2nd generation hybrids often have a super abundance of teeth

Agave victoriae-reginae x ovatifolia

Hand made Agave hybrids

• help identify in situ wild hybrids
• increase the diversity of plants for horticulture
• reduce some of the collection pressure on wild agaves

Agave 'Contortionist' = Agave ovatifolia x pseudosalmiana 'Bellville'

Hand made Agave hybrids

• help identify in situ wild hybrids
• increase the diversity of plants for horticulture

• reduce some of the collection pressure on wild agaves
  - - - - -
  https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/mjpapay/88638-agave-pseudosalmiana

Agave 'Blue Prince' = Agave ( lophantha-x-pseudosalmiana 'Logan Calhoun') x ovatifolia, F2

• 2nd generation of Plant Delight Nursery/Juniper Level Botanic Garden's Agave amourifolia 'Twisted Tongue'

This is a blue-leaved seedling I selected from the vast array of variation amongst the seedlings, from Plant Delights Nursery.

Hand made Agave hybrids

• help identify in situ wild hybrids
• increase the diversity of plants for horticulture

• reduce some of the collection pressure on wild agaves
  - - - - -
  https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/mjpapay/88638-agave-pseudosalmiana
  - - - - -
  Photo 2 & 3 = 15 September 2024

Agave ovatifolia x lechuguilla-x-lophantha; a 2nd generation seedling selected from the sole survivor of a 1st generation plant that survived 10 consecutive days of below-freezing temperatures and a low of 7F; original hybrid cross created in my garden with an Agave ovatifolia that received pollen of Agave lechuguilla x lophantha donated by Tony Avent, proprietor of Juniper Level Botanic Garden, Plant Delights Nursery.

Hand made Agave hybrids

• help identify in situ wild hybrids
• increase the diversity of plants for horticulture

• reduce some of the collection pressure on wild agaves
  - - - - -
  https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/mjpapay/88638-agave-pseudosalmiana

Agave pseudosalmiana 'Green Goblet' at Juniper Level Botanic Garden, Raleigh, North Carolina

1st Photo from my photo in my book Splendor in Spines, 5th edition, 2018. Note how closely the young plant resembles Agave salmiana.

Then compare the older plant (photos 2 & 3) with Agave 'Brontosaurus', a seedling selection of my hand-made cross Agave ovatifolia x (pseudosalmiana 'Saltillo'). Agave 'Green Goblet' is larger, and less hardy to cold, but is otherwise almost identical to Agave 'Brontosaurus' : https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/157774049

2nd & 3rd photo, 02 March 2024: clone of same plant in 1st photo, via rhizomatous sprouts

https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/mjpapay/88638-agave-pseudosalmiana

Agave schidigera x lechuguilla-x-lophantha

In 2015, an Agave schidigera flowered in my garden, and onto its flowers I placed pollen of Agave lechuguilla x lophantha donated by Tony Avent of Plant Delights Nursery & Juniper Level Botanic Garden.

This is an offset from the best seedling of that cross. Juniper Level Botanic Garden retains the resplendent original seedling.

This has proven to be perfectly winter hardy (USDA Zone 7b), and does not suffer from the high humidity or heavy rainfall of the Eastern North Carolina climate.

2nd photo = 11 July 2024

Hand made Agave hybrids

• help identify in situ wild hybrids
• increase the diversity of plants for horticulture

• reduce some of the collection pressure on wild agaves
  - - - - -
  https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/mjpapay/88638-agave-pseudosalmiana

Agave ( pseudosalmiana 'Saltillo' ) x ovatifolia (Tony Avent named this selection, 'Brontosaurus')

In 2016, in my garden, I placed pollen from Agave ovatifolia onto the stigmas of Agave pseudosalmiana 'Saltillo', and made the reverse cross, with the hope of producing cold hardy, large, green, surculose/offsetting agaves. The seed from both crosses was accepted by Juniper Level Botanic Garden. Tony Avent, proprietor, now has his favorite seedlings growing in the garden. Several are on prominent display, including this one. It is, for me, a dream come true.

EDIT:

• 2nd photo taken 11 months later, 02 March 2024
  - - - - -
  Hand made Agave hybrids

• help identify in situ wild hybrids
• increase the diversity of plants for horticulture

• reduce some of the collection pressure on wild agaves
  - - - - -
  https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/mjpapay/88638-agave-pseudosalmiana

Agave 'Wheel of Fortune' = Agave schidigera x lechuguilla-x-lophantha

In 2015, in my garden, an Agave schidigera 'Durango Delight' flowered, and onto its flowers I placed pollen of Agave lechuguilla-x-lophantha, the pollen donated by Tony Avent, Juniper Level Botanic Garden. The resultant seed I gave to Juniper Level Botanic Garden, of which this is their best seedling. They have named it 'Wheel of Fortune'. It is perfectly cold hardy in USDA climate Zone 7. Another dream come true.

Hand made Agave hybrids

• help identify in situ wild hybrids
• increase the diversity of plants for horticulture

• reduce some of the collection pressure on wild agaves
  - - - - -
  https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/mjpapay/88638-agave-pseudosalmiana

Agave ovatifolia x (pseudosalmiana 'Saltillo')

Hybrid cross made in my garden in 2016.

Seedlings grown at Juniper Level Botanic Garden, Plant Delights Nursery.

Hand made Agave hybrids

• help identify in situ wild hybrids
• increase the diversity of plants for horticulture

• reduce some of the collection pressure on wild agaves
  - - - - -
  https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/mjpapay/88638-agave-pseudosalmiana

Agave ovatifolia x flexispina - created in 2016 by hand-pollinating my Agave ovatifolia with pollen of Agave flexispina provided by Tony Avent of Juniper Level Botanic Garden, Plant Delights Nursery, where this seedling selection now grows.

Hand made Agave hybrids

• help identify in situ wild hybrids
• increase the diversity of plants for horticulture

• reduce some of the collection pressure on wild agaves
  - - - - -
  https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/mjpapay/88638-agave-pseudosalmiana