Mangave Pineapple Express

The Mangave Mangave Pineapple Express is a succulent plant that is part of a series of amazing North American hybrids resulting from the cross between Manfreda and Agaves. From the agaves, they borrow a remarkably architectured persistent vegetation as well as a very vivacious temperament, while the Manfreda have passed on to them unique colours, less sharp thorns, and a faster growth. This Pineapple Express variety, with leaves dotted with dark red, forms an upright clump that resembles a large pineapple bouquet. Drought-resistant but not very hardy, it makes a very beautiful subject to grow in a pot on the terrace. In seaside gardens or mild climates, it will thrive in a rockery. 

The Mangave Mangave Pineapple Express belongs to the Agave family, now included by botanists in the much larger Asparagaceae family. This plant develops quite rapidly into a rosette 25-30 cm tall by 40 cm wide, composed of numerous succulent leaves. They are long, quite wide, in gutters, upright, slightly arched, pointed, finely toothed along the edge, and ending in a cinnamon-coloured spine. Their thick blade is covered with a waxy film. Mint green in colour, they are randomly spotted and speckled with Bordeaux. The oldest leaves, at the base of the rosette, are greener. Flowering will appear in favourable climates on mature plants, from August to October. From the centre of the rosette emerges a branched floral stem bearing small star-shaped white flowers. Mangave Mangave plants thrive in dry, well-drained soil, capable of withstanding short frosts of around -5 to -7°C depending on the varieties. They should be placed in full sun or at most in partial shade in warm climates. The vegetation persists in winter.

To create exotic and colourful scenes in mild climates, the Pineapple Express Mangave will be planted in a rockery, alongside other small agaves like Agave montana, other differently coloured Mangaves, sedums with yellow flowers, Euphorbia myrsinites or grasses like Carex comans Milk Chocolate or Stipa tenuifolia. Enthusiasts of cacti and other succulent plants can showcase it on the terrace or balcony in a yellow or beige pot, surrounded by sempervivums.