Manfreda virginica – American Aloe – 1-Pint

Although rarely offered for sale, this relative of Agave is an easy-to-grow, drought-tolerant perennial, native from North Carolina to Missouri south to Texas and Florida. We’ve been propagating it from seed and consider it cold hardy in our area. It does, however require good drainage. It makes a low rosette of fleshy green leaves, often spotted liver-purple. The rosettes are topped with tall flower spikes, ending in a cluster of tubular purple, fragrant flowers with huge yellow anthers. Though for humans they’re more fascinating than showy, hummingbirds and sphinx moths happen to love them. Long-lived.