Mill Valley, where I live, is known for its mild temps but after a recent spate of heat waves that left my perennials curled up, crispy, or wilted (despite being hydrated and well-established), I came to really love and appreciate all the succulents and cactus in my garden.
False Agave, Furcraea
Please keep reading to learn more about the plant that you might also want to consider.
A potted Furcraea foetida in a SF garden (for more of this garden, see Designer Visit: A Garden Hidden in SF’s Mission District, by Daniel Nolan).
It’s the most commonly grown variety and was once cultivated as a hemp fiber plant on Mauritius Island, which explains why its common name is Mauritius Hemp.
Native to South America and the Caribbean, this group of plants can easily be mistaken for Agaves (thus the common name). What separates them is that False Agaves produce bulbous-shaped flowers while Agave flowers are bell-shaped.
Hardy to between 20 and 30 degrees F, False Agaves are prized by designers and plant collectors who are looking for year-round statement plants. The one thing to obviously consider is that some of these stately beings demand a large garden so they can reach their ultimate impressive size.
Choose your spot wisely—once established, they can be tricky to relocate. False Agaves are easy to care for and drought tolerant, making them a top contender for the garden.
Cheat Sheet
A Furcraea gigantea ‘Variegata’ by Megan Hansen via Flickr.