Botanist's Lens: Soaking in the Sun!
Spanish Bayonet Yucca, Agauos Agave, and Amazing Aloe
Succulents soak in the sun, enjoying every bit of the bright UV rays even when temperatures start soaring. Don't need any water yet? Let's have a look at three stalwart plants of the succulent family: Agave, Yucca and Aloe. All three, when gifted to anyone, will surely be received with wide open arms, for it is almost impossible to kill them. Yes, you can forget to water them and they will still live on. Succulent survival at its best!
Aguos Agave 'Blue glow'
Let me introduce you to a marvelous Agave variety: the leaves have a blue green tinge, a red margin and a stunning arrangement of rosette leaves. Agaves are one of the best succulents you can leave alone and forget to water. But when in pots, they could use a soil fix. Adapted to zone 8-11, this blue green Agave flowers only once in 10-15 years and then dies. This particular Agave is small in size and best for containers.
Agave americana
Agave americana on the other hand is a very large Agave with beautiful creamy yellow strip to the leaves and killer spike at the tip. Agave americana 'marginata' needs its own space in a garden, it can make a bold statement with its size and stripes.
Spanish Bayonet, Yucca
What's not to like about Yuccas? They thrive in dry, neglected soils and live on for years. A pretty drought tolerant variety is Yucca filamentosa, the specific epithet referring to fibers on the yellow green leaf margin. The flower spikes can reach up to 6 ft and the bright white flowers are a magnet for the bees.