Buy Agave montana [Monte Strain]

This strain is grown from the seeds of the Agave that famously bloomed here in our hometown of Portland, Oregon, which is a rare sight for us Pacific Northwesterners. The spectacular blooming event drew locals and news crews to the Southeast neighborhood unaccustomed to such crowds.

Any Agave successfully overwintering in the ground is a triumph here in Portland, so an Agave that made it through the decades necessary to get to blooming maturity has our attention. We have a lot of gardeners with those satisfyingly chunky rosettes that result from years surviving the winter season. We also have the post-winter tradition of sharing with our gardening pals which of our Agaves did and didn't make it through.

If you're hoping for your best chance at a long lived plant that eventually blooms, know that the blooming plant was planted in a south facing parking strip on a street with a decent hill, and the soil was prepped to provide excellent drainage. Our hot, dry summers are just fine for our Agaves and their sun loving friends. What usually challenges us is the soggy winter season where our desert plants resent getting wet feet. The successful plants have well-draining soil and/or protection from rain, and a charming tilt to the side to keep water from collecting at the base of the plant.