Quackin Grass Nursery

Manfreda undulata 'Chocolate Chips' - This is an odd Agave relative for those who thrive on the unusual. Long, narrow strap-shaped leaves emerge from the central rosette. Each leaf folded up like a pair of pages in a partly open book undulates heavily at the edges from stem to stern. Where it distinguishes itself from the species is its blue-green background is heavily spotted in brown-maroon. In winter 3 to 4 foot flowering stems carry odd skinny pink linear flowers. Unlike agaves it will not give up the proverbial ghost after flowering; in fact, it will bloom year after year once it reaches the right age. In conditions very much to its liking the inflorescence can rise to 8 feet. Some might say the flowering stem looks like a sickly stem of Pinus wallichiana with pink instead of green needles having reached a point where its dropped more needles than its still holding onto... Who put the acid in my punch? That horrid description aside this really is a very cool plant. 'Chocolate Chips' is a conversation piece in any and every season. It was selected as a seedling at the renowned Yucca Do Nursery. Plant in any well-drained soil sited in full blazing sun. It's a fairly low fertility plant with average to low water needs. In the north it'll make a fascinating windowsill, greenhouse or conservatory specimen in a gritty well-drained mix planted in a squat, wide terracotta pot with a mulch of gravel. Just give it lots of sun. Garden origin but the species hales from Mexico. For gardeners towards the northern end of its range spring planting is advised. Established potted Manfreda, flowering size via division. Our 2-quart size harbors a mom with multliple pups - full and nice!