Agave lopantha 'Quadricolor'

Rare and unusual

Agave lopantha 'Quadricolor'

£25.00

At a glance

Light: Full sun5+ hours of sun
Lowest temperature: -4°C Takes some frost
Mature size: 50 cm x 50 cm Height x width
Growability: BeginnerWhat this means

Where it grows best and how to care for it

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What arrives

Sent by Royal Mail, with tracking
Unless stated otherwise, grown in a 6cm pot and around 5-7cm wide. Size guide
Sent bare-root, so it travels safely. Why we ship without pots and soil
Packed without plastic, apart from the plant label
Grown at our nursery in Cornwall and picked by hand for your order

The plant you receive may not look exactly like the photos.

This is the variegated form of Agave lopantha which is a very attractive, bright and ornamental plant.

Agave lopantha ‘Quadricolor’ has very thin, robust leaves compared to most other Agaves. Like a lot of Agaves, it can withstand cold temperatures to as -10*c, but this will require very good free draining soil. It is a compact growing Agave that can reach 50cm in height and spread when fully grown.

It's best grown in full strong sunlight, and with a regularly feeding during the growing season it will reach specimen size in good time. It can be grown in the garden or a pot and is best planted with a good layer of horticultural grit or gravel layer so water and rain can drain away freely, it is also advised to angle the Agave so that the crown doesn’t collect water. This is especially important in cold and frosty weather conditions.

We send everything by Royal Mail, and you'll get tracking updates once your order is on its way.

Standard: we send your order within 3 working days by Tracked 48, so it takes 3 to 5 days to arrive.

Super Express: order before 2pm on a working day and it goes out the same day by Tracked 24, arriving in 1 to 2 working days.

Our packaging is 100% plastic-free. The plant label is the only plastic in the box.

Your plants travel bare-root, nested carefully in the packaging.

Light

Full sun

5+ hours of sun

Full shade
Partial shade
Full sun

Lowest temperature

-4°C

Takes frost down to -4°C. Give it shelter if it gets colder than that.

-4°C

Good places to grow it

Outdoor tabletop
Patio
Conservatory

Growability: Beginner
Growth form: Singular rosette
Growth rate: Slow
Mature size (H x W): 50 cm x 50 cm
Foliage colour: Yellow, Green, Lime, White

Customer reviews

On arrival

Unpacking and planting

Agave lopantha 'Quadricolor' is delivered bare-root. Plant it into a stable pot of sharply drained compost, keeping the crown above the surface and positioning outdoor specimens at a slight angle.

Spread the roots naturally, tap the pot to settle the compost and wait five to seven days before watering. This allows transport damage to dry and reduces the risk of basal rot.

Keep Agave lopantha 'Quadricolor' in bright, sheltered conditions while it establishes. Introduce full sun gradually and handle the leaf tips with care.

We supply the recommended care essentials for mail order. Find the relevant products here: succulent compost

Watering

Agaves are summer growers, so water Agave lopantha 'Quadricolor' freely through the warm growing season. Follow a soak-and-dry approach: drench the entire root area thoroughly, let all excess drain away, then allow the compost to dry before watering again. In active growth this usually means watering about once a week, rising to two or three times a week during prolonged hot, sunny, dry spells.

Water in the morning and check the compost first. Outdoor plants in sharply drained ground can rely largely on rainfall, but containers should be monitored through prolonged dry spells.

Keep Agave lopantha 'Quadricolor' almost dry over winter, when growth rests. Cold, saturated compost and water sitting in the crown are the greatest risks, far more than cold itself.

We supply the recommended care essentials for mail order. Find the relevant products here: succulent compost

Light and position

Provide Agave lopantha 'Quadricolor' with Full Sun - 5+ Hours of Sun. Suitable positions can include Outdoor Tabletop, Patio, and Conservatory. Strong natural light is particularly important through winter and helps the plant maintain firm, compact leaves.

Most Agaves prefer full sun or partial shade. Variegated forms often keep their markings more clearly with protection from the harshest afternoon sun.

Allow sufficient space around the mature rosette and keep it away from narrow paths, doors and play areas. The leaf margins and terminal spines can cause injury.

Compost and drainage

Plant Agave lopantha 'Quadricolor' in a sharply drained mixture containing approximately 50% multi-purpose compost and 50% horticultural grit or perlite. Always use a stable pot with large, unrestricted drainage holes.

Set outdoor plants at a slight angle so rain runs away from the crown. Apply a thick mineral top-dressing to keep the lowest leaves away from wet compost.

Do not overpot an Agave. A large volume of unused compost remains damp for too long and makes the heavy rosette less stable.

We supply the recommended care essentials for mail order. Find the relevant products here: succulent compost horticultural grit perlite

Feeding

Feed Agave lopantha 'Quadricolor' regularly during active spring and summer growth to support strong, healthy development. Incorporate a five to six-month slow-release fertiliser when repotting, or apply a well-balanced liquid feed every two to three weeks.

Apply liquid feed only when the compost is already moist. Regular feeding through the warm months promotes firm, well-coloured leaves and strong growth right through summer.

Stop feeding as temperatures fall and growth slows. Soft late growth is less resilient through a cold, damp winter.

We supply the recommended care essentials for mail order. Find the relevant products here: succulent compost liquid seaweed feed

Winter care

The recorded minimum temperature for Agave lopantha 'Quadricolor' is -4°C. Agave hardiness varies greatly, so follow the product's recorded value rather than treating every species in the same way.

Keep the plant in the brightest available position and protect it from persistent winter wet. Young plants, tender cultivars and containers can be moved beneath cover or wrapped with horticultural fleece during severe weather.

Keep the compost on the dry side while growth is resting. Some hardy species tolerate snow and frost successfully when their roots and crowns remain well drained.

We supply the recommended care essentials for mail order. Find the relevant products here: succulent compost horticultural fleece

Summer care

Agaves tolerate heat well when they have strong roots and free-draining compost. Water thoroughly during prolonged hot, dry weather and allow the compost to drain between waterings.

Ventilate greenhouses and conservatories so heat does not become trapped around the crown. Variegated forms may need temporary afternoon shade to prevent pale tissue from scorching.

Continue feeding through active summer growth. Stop if the plant is stressed, newly repotted or unable to dry between waterings.

We supply the recommended care essentials for mail order. Find the relevant products here: succulent compost

Repotting

Repot Agave lopantha 'Quadricolor' in spring when it becomes pot-bound or unstable. Wear suitable gloves and handle the rosette carefully because the terminal spines and leaf margins can be sharp.

Remove dead leaves and roots, separate any well-developed offsets and replace the old compost with a fresh 50:50 compost and mineral mixture.

Set the plant at a slight angle outdoors so water drains away from the crown. Wash your hands after handling because Agave sap can irritate the skin.

We supply the recommended care essentials for mail order. Find the relevant products here: succulent compost

Common problems

A loose crown, soft basal leaves or a sour smell from the compost indicates excess moisture and root damage. Remove rotten tissue, improve drainage and keep the plant dry while it recovers.

Pale, elongated leaves indicate insufficient light. Move Agave lopantha 'Quadricolor' gradually into a brighter position, particularly during winter.

Check deep leaf bases for mealybug and scale. Position the plant safely so its terminal spines cannot injure people or pets.

We supply the recommended care essentials for mail order. Find the relevant products here: succulent compost