Agave x loferox

Common name:  ‘Stairway to Heaven’

An exciting and unique looking Agave hybrid produced in the US by the Tony Avent at Plant Delights nursery. I was fortunate enough to obtain seeds from Tony a few years ago. Below is the story behind the cross. I am really happy to be able to offer these plants for sale in the UK

‘In 2009, we hand-crossed flowering plants of Agave lophantha with pollen from Agave x pseudoferox ‘Logan Calhoun’ (our name for plants we now believe to be hybrids of Agave americana, asperrima, and gentryi, and incorrectly grown as Agave salmiana var. ferox). Our seed strain, which we introduced in 2011 as Agave ‘Stairway to Heaven’, is fairly consistent in combining traits from each parent…the upturned leaf tips of Agave gentryi and asperrima, the increased size, fast growth and offsetting of Agave americana, some light central striping from Agave lophantha, and extra teeth from…well, who knows where. Each seedling is different and will vary in size, but average rosette is 3′ tall x 4-5′ wide with 3″ wide x 3′ long, dark green leaves. In our in ground trials, we’ve seen virtually no damage at 7 degrees F. We’ve also had several plants from this cross flower six years from seed sowing, which is quite remarkable for a century plant. The 20′ tall scapes are intermediate between the panicles of Agave x pseudoferox and the spicate scapes of Agave lophantha. The flowers are a magnet for ants, bees, hummingbirds, and crazy agave breeders with ladders’

• Hardiness: H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5) Potentially more cold hardy than this

• Position/Aspect: Full sun or partial shade, free draining gritty gravelly soil. Should tolerate pot culture well

• Drought tolerance: Very good given its genetic makeup

• Size: 100cm tall x 120cm wide

• Seed grown at the Kent nursery: yes