Agave Cream Spike (1 Gal. Pot)

Agave Cream Spike 

PLEASE NOTE:
Plants are shipped Bare Root
The pictures do not reflect exact plant(s). Your plant will be similar to the ones in the photos, same size.
We take extreme care when packaging and shipping all our live plants to ensure you receive a happy and healthy plant. A few damaged and/or broken off leaves is completely normal during the shipping process. So don't panic.
As soon as you receive the package, please take the plant out of the box, and give it some water if the soil is dry. It is normal for plants to look limp and dry as they are stressed during the shipping process.
Please note that the seller is not responsible for the buyer's inability to keep the plant alive.
Please inspect your plant as soon as it was delivered and if there is any issue with the order, contact us within 24 HRS (No Exceptions) with clear images showing the issue
The if you think the plant will cross through cold areas or it's cold at your delivery location, A HEAT PACK SHOULD BE PURCHASED. We are not responsible for any damages due to exposure to cold.

Habit and Cultural Information Category: Succulent Family: Agavaceae (now Asparagaceae) Origin: Mexico (North America) Evergreen: Yes Variegated Foliage: Yes Bloomtime: Infrequent Synonyms: [A. parryi minima variegata, A. applanata cv.] Height: <1 foot Width: <1 foot Exposure: Sun or Shade Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs Winter Hardiness: 15-20° F May be Poisonous  (More Info): Yes

Agave 'Cream Spike' (Cream Spike Agave) - A small rosette-forming succulent that grows to only 4 inches tall by about 6 inches wide with olive green leaves margined with cream-colored edges and dark brown spines. The margins occasionally have a seasonal slight flush of red at the leaf tip and base. It grows well in light shade or full coastal sun but may require protection in hotter climates. Plant in a well-drained soil and irrigated little to occasionally. Though good hardiness information on this cultivar has not been fully documented it has been winter hardy unprotected in Santa Barbara and will likely tolerate temperatures down to at least 15 degrees F. It is a great small container plant. Our plants came from the plant collection of Alice Waidhofer of Stockton, CA. In this collection there was an near identical plant labeled Agave patonii 'Dwarf Variegata'. These plants and other similar cultivars are also sometimes labeled with names such Agave minima 'Variegata', Agave patonii marginata or 'Alba Marginata' but all such names are invalid due to rules of nomenclature - cultivars described after 1959 cannot have Latinized cultivar names. The late Rick Nowakowski of Natures Curiosity Shop told us that he grew this plant since the late 1980's and indicated that he first received it as Agave patonii marginata from Japan but the actual introduction date and original breeder has not been determined. Agave patonii has more recently been subsumed into Agave parryi but there are many that don't believe this plant to be a cultivar of Agave parryi; Brian Kemble at the Ruth Bancroft Garden suggests it may be a cultivar of Agave applanata and this suggestion seems quite plausible to us. Noted agavephile Greg Starr agrees and has taken to list this plant as a cultivar of this species. Until such time as we can retrace its origins we have decided to call this beauty Agave 'Cream Spike'. Our thanks to John Trager for suggesting this name and to Tony Avent, who after receiving this plant from us, sent it to a micro propagation laboratory, enabling us to sell the plant several years earlier than we had anticipated. Unfortunately in more recent years this plant has suffered from Cochineal scale infestations. This white tufted insect is stationary and permanently mars the leaves with light yellow spots and where is feeding and it has been so difficult to completely control that we have discontinued producing it. Fortunately the similar plant, which we now list under the name Agave patonii 'Alba Marginata' has not been so effected and so we are now only growing it.  The information about Agave 'Cream Spike' displayed on this page is based on our research conducted about this plant in our library and from reliable online resources. We also note those observations we have made of it as it grows in our nursery garden and in other gardens, as well how crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will incorporate comments we receive from others and welcome to hear from anyone who may have additional information, particularly if what they share with us about this plant would aid others in growing it.