Agave 'BlueBell Giants' x protoAmericana x pseudoferox

[Merlyn2220]

Plant Delights Nursery offers this hybrid of (apparently) Americana, Asperrima and Gentryi. I bought one in 8/2018 and planted it in 9/2018. It was 6" diameter at the time and planted in lava rock covering a 50/50 mix of coarse sand and generic "topsoil." In NW Orlando, FL we get 60ish inches of rain per year and the bed area is in about 75% sun. 15 months later it's 36-40 inches diameter and is probably my fastest grower. At this rate I have no doubt it will reach PDN's estimated 7' tall x 12' wide. The pup to the right side is an Americana from another nearby agave, this one has not pupped yet:

Agave Bluebell Giants 122619.JPG (261.24 KiB) Viewed 5528 times

New leaf detail with an Americana in the background:

Agave Bluebell Giants center 122619.JPG (107.72 KiB) Viewed 5528 times

Back of the leaves with deep imprints:

Agave Bluebell Giants Leaf 122619.JPG (153.46 KiB) Viewed 5528 times

[abborean]

Have a recent picture?

[Meangreen94z]

I left mine out, only a frost blanket was thrown on top after it already was frozen solid. If it somehow survives two nights of 4*F I’ll photograph it for you. It looks like the typical Salmiana hybrid so far.

[Merlyn2220]

I transplanted mine to a bigger spot at the beginning of March, 2020. It *really* did not like getting moved, and got an edema and rot issue that took a few months to clear up. So that definitely set back growth by a lot. It's finally grown out of it, all the good looking leaves are new since about June 2020. Frosts at 28, 30, 32 and 35F had no noticeable effect. The leaves are definitely narrower/longer/more cupped than the earlier photos. Today it is approximately 40" diameter and 30" tall.

P1070579 Bluebell Giants 021621.JPG (487.15 KiB) Viewed 4630 times

P1070578 Bluebell Giants 021621.JPG (433.39 KiB) Viewed 4630 times

[Meangreen94z]

Here’s mine seeing it’s first sunlight and above freezing temperatures in almost a week. We’ll see if it survive that and 2 nights down to 4*F with nothing but a frost blanket on top. PDN rates them 7B

[Meangreen94z]

See above post....If anyone is wondering the hardiness of this agave, it went through a week of below freezing temperatures with 2 nights in a row 4*F. This was in wet soil(before freezing) while the agave was covered in ice. After two days above freezing all leaves are intact with only minor to medium burn present.

This agave does offset. I had a few prior to the freeze(will try to locate)and will have more in the future

[Samhain]

I need to get ahold of some of these giants. Glad to see them holding to the frost, I imagine the damage to so many to be devastating.

[Meangreen94z]

Here it is 3 years later in my old yard, shovel for reference.

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