Mangaves

xHansara 'Jumping Jacks' with baby, newly split

 

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Here's a new one for even the most seasoned plant nerds. xHansara, named after our friend and mangave breeder Hans Hansen, is the first ever released tri-generic hybrid between Agave, Manfreda, and Polianthes (tuberose). xHansara 'Jumping Jacks' combines the genes of Agave gypsophila ssp. pablocarrilloi, Agave macroacantha, Manfreda maculosa, Polianthes tuberosa, and Polianthes howardii...whew, just thinking about all that sex makes me tired. xHansara 'Jumping Jacks' forms a 14" tall x 27" wide clump of narrow, succulent, grey-green foliage, sparsely spotted purple. When mature, which should take 2-3 years, expect a 6' tall, highly branched flower spike of lovely yellow flowers, but with an insignificant fragrance. Be sure to check both your state regulations and HOA covenants to make sure an outdoor menage-a-trois is permissible.

Well, I got a free plant at Walter's Gardens a few years ago.

And speaking of sex, my 'Jumping Jacks' had a baby. I separated them. Anybody want the baby? I have no more room for plants that need to winter indoors.

Hinoki Cypress

 

I learn something about my plants every year and every day.

As I adjusted the Christmas lights on my little (dwarf) hinoki cypress the first week of December I spotted little brown growths. I have shaken off the dead growth of hinoki in PVB's yard and in my daughter's yard. I have been up close and personal to this evergreen. I have never seen any tiny cones!

Of course, an evergreen produces cones. That is how it reproduces! Does it need a partner?

I haven't been able to find out much about the tiny cones yet, but the female specimen apparently produces green cones which develop into a reddish brown. 

So cute!