Posted by Jan in Slovakia on October 20, 2006, 12:44 am, in reply to "Re: no luck with agave havardiana" thanks for the info. Your minimum temps are very much like ours but it's somewhat drier here with about 500-600mm of precipitation per year. Most of that rain occurs in the warmer half of the year so that also helps. Neomexicana, parryi and havardiana (with the right provenance) are considered hardy over here but I am surprised the utahensis subspecies (all 4 of them) and lophantha did not make it. A. utahensis is thought to be very hardy but must be in 100% water free environment in winter - which means perfect drainage (99% pure rock) and overhead shelter. A. lophantha can tolerate some moisture (they grow it in the UK) and is thought to be quite hardy. Montana is the one I am curious about. We all know it's one of the 4 species found at altitude over 3000m (up to 3400m?) and sees temps below 0C. But its hardiness is yet to be tested. Guys in the UK have tested some smaller plants (Paul_S, if you know of any big 'un growing on your side of the channel, please correct me) but they have "warm" winters lacking our extremes. I think the time will tell whether this species can cope with really cold weather. I am currently gathering some plants which I have in pots because next year I am moving and because most of them are still small to be tried (with Agavaceae I believe their hardiness increases with age and size) so I have to wait a year or two before I can do some real testing. You wrote: A. mckelveyana (pretty hardy) Does it mean it does OK for you? I am asking 'coz I have high hopes for mckelveyana and its close relative deserti. Thanks, Jan
Hi Tim,
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