A Silver Agave for Cornwall?

[Chad]

Do this or this look more like the real thing?

Chad

[Paul S]

The first one is from a different location and the jury is out as to whether it is ovatifolia or not - there are a few 'ovatifolia-a-like' plants in circulation like this. The second one talks a good talk but, well, it is Rare Palm Seeds so getting good accurate seed is always a lottery. No way they are getting seeds from the type location so I imagine their stock is from recently flowered plants with the associated baggage as described. But tbf nowhere else is going to have seed from the type location. I might ask a question on an agave forum I inhabit, see if anyone knows of true descendants from the first ones.

[Paul S]

Well, had a conversation with Greg Starr and he says that plants from his original collection offset when in pots, although not when planted out. Not does he know of anyone over there who has kept a 'pure' lineage (if anyone had done it, it would surely have been him) So it seems you really will have to pick by eye what you are looking for.

[Chad]

Thanks Paul,

Were the Tremenheere plants morphologically far from the wild form?

If not I'll ask Mark for some and save a few years.

Chad

[MartinNicklin]

My experience of Agaves Chad - and I still have over a hundred of hundred (I’ve had to rehouse a fair few at a relative's house) - is that you would indeed do well to get hold of a fair few and grow them on first as Paul suggests because I’ve seen dramatic changes in form and even colour as the plants grow. My regret up here is that it would be too cold and wet to grow them effectively outdoors. Down in Cornwall I’m sure they could cope with the wet - with excellent drainage - due to the warmer winters, as attested to by some magnificent plants growing outside down there.
It will be interesting to follow how you get on with these.

[LostInJapan]

Given the issues with the aforementioned genetics, what do you think of my plant. It was seed grown around 12 years ago.

[Paul S]

Nice plant. :) Must be due to flower soon.

[Richard K]

My ovatifolia seems to have been quite bulletproof and got through -15 a couple of years ago. However it's at the top of a slope in a sunny spot on the dry side of the country. I think give it a go with the sharpest of sharp drainage. Don't put it somewhere it could spike you! It would be a 999 call if you fell on it!