Native Plants
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
rate this answer
Wednesday - May 11, 2011
From: Cherryville, NC
Region: Southeast
Topic: Cacti and Succulents
Title: Obtaining Agave parryi in Cherryville NC
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
I live in western North Carolina and I had a friend that had a Agave parryi that bloomed about 1 year ago and of course it died. Since i saw the beautiful agave I have wanted one, but no one in my area can tell me where to get one. i was hoping you could help me.ANSWER:
As you can see from this USDA Plant Profile Map, the Agave parryi (Parry's agave) grows natively nowhere near North Carolina. Obviously, people do grow them other places, but they are difficult to find because there is probably not much market for them. You can go to our National Suppliers Directory and type your town and state in the "Enter Search Location" box and you will get a list of native plant nurseries, seed companies and landscape professionals in your general area. They all have contact information and if they don't carry the plant you are interested in, they may be able to tell you where else to look.
Your friend might have had some "pups" around her original plant or know somewhere that you could get them. If there are nurseries around that specialize in succulents, they might have some. Sometimes, in colder areas, they are considered house plants and can be at least started indoors. This site from Mountain States Wholesale Nursery has about the best information on the growing conditions this plant requires. Another good article is from Western New Mexico University, Vascular Plants of the Gila Wilderness. You do realize, we are sure, that while this plant is native to North America, it is NOT native to North Carolina, and the culture of the plant, if you can locate one, is going to range from difficult to nearly impossible.
We would suggest you check out the website from the Cactus and Succulent Society of America.
From the Image Gallery
More Cacti and Succulents Questions
20 years to bloom
May 02, 2007 - My girlfriend and i have come up with an interesting question, we were wondering if there is a plant in existance that takes over 20 years to bloom, and how many different kinds (if any) there are? We...
view the full question and answer
Can I have success planting Adams Needle in Calgary, Alberta? Maybe.
March 23, 2009 - I live in Calgary, Alberta and am wondering if I could have success planting Adams Needle in this climate (lots of chinook winds in the winter with large fluctuations in temperatures).
view the full question and answer
Removing faded flowers from plants in Georgetown, DE
July 28, 2012 - I bought a chamase rose quartz that was in bloom. now the buds are dead, should i remove them or just leave them on the plant. they wont just fall off. and the tips of the plant has new growth.
view the full question and answer
Lesions on Agave Leaves in Spring Branch, Texas
January 14, 2011 - I have a giant Agave americana that was beautiful until recently. Several of the leaves have lesions, some of them quite drastic, on the last third of the leaf. What is causing this?
view the full question and answer
Getting rid of Adams needle (Yucca filamentosa)
June 24, 2009 - My friend is changing her flower beds around and is wanting to eliminate an Adam's needle that has been there for several years. She has already dug it up and now is trying to get rid of all the new...
view the full question and answer
| Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |