{"product_id":"agave-blue-emperor","title":"Agave 'Blue Emperor'","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAgave 'Blue Emperor'\u003c\/strong\u003e packs the full sculptural force of the genus into a rosette small enough for a terracotta pot: intensely dark blue-green leaves, edged with contrasting teeth, arranged with the geometric precision that makes collectors fall for agaves in the first place. The colour deepens with sun until the whole plant reads almost steel blue.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCompact and slow, it is one of the easiest ways into hardy agave growing. Kept dry at the root it takes around -8C, and its size means winter protection is as simple as sliding the pot under a porch. In the ground it wants what every agave wants: sun, grit and benign neglect.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHow and where to grow\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePosition:\u003c\/strong\u003e full sun; the brighter, the bluer.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e gritty and extremely free-draining, or a half-grit pot mix.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e a compact rosette to around 30-40 cm across.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness:\u003c\/strong\u003e around -8C with dry roots; we rate it H3 for honesty.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eGrow it as the centrepiece of a trough or gravel pocket in a \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/drought-tolerant-plants\"\u003edry garden\u003c\/a\u003e, or in a pot among our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pots\"\u003eplants for pots\u003c\/a\u003e. It makes a superb trio with \u003ca href=\"\/products\/agave-parryi-red-select\"\u003eAgave parryi red select\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"\/products\/agave-shaka-zulu\"\u003eAgave 'Shaka Zulu'\u003c\/a\u003e from our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003ehardy exotics\u003c\/a\u003e range.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOnly a handful available. Winter care is covered honestly in our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hardy-exotics-what-to-expect\"\u003eseasonal expectations guide\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"12cm \/ 1L","offer_id":58369794310527,"sku":"AGAVBLUE12","price":22.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/agaveemp.jpg?v=1789653489","url":"https:\/\/growtropicals.com\/products\/agave-blue-emperor","provider":"GrowTropicals","version":"1.0","type":"link"}