{"product_id":"agave-shaka-zulu","title":"Agave 'Shaka Zulu'","description":"\u003cp\u003eAgave 'Shaka Zulu' is a show-stopping architectural succulent and one of the most cold-hardy large agaves you can grow outdoors in Britain. Bred from the famously tough \u003cem\u003eAgave ovatifolia\u003c\/em\u003e (the Whale's Tongue agave), it forms a beautifully symmetrical rosette of broad, cupped leaves in a soft powder-blue that holds its colour right through the year. It is a true centrepiece plant, equally at home in a contemporary gravel garden, a Mediterranean-style border or a statement pot by the door.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWhy gardeners want it\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eAmong the wave of hardy exotics now grown in the UK, this is one of the best. The leaves are wide, smoothly arching and architectural, each finished with a neat terminal spine, and the whole rosette has a sculptural, almost geometric poise that few other plants match. Compared with a typical tender agave plant, 'Shaka Zulu' shrugs off cold far more readily, making it a reliable choice for adventurous gardeners.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStriking powder-blue, year-round evergreen foliage\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eExceptional cold tolerance for such a bold agave\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLow-maintenance and drought-tolerant once established\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eTo get the best from it, plant in full sun in a warm, sheltered spot facing south or west. Sharp drainage is essential, so work plenty of grit into the soil or plant into a raised bed; chalk, sandy and loam soils all suit it, across the full pH range. The plant copes easily with dry summers and actively prefers it lean and gritty. Hardy to roughly -10C to -12C when dry, it is winter wet rather than frost that does the damage, so keep the crown free-draining. Expect a slow-building rosette reaching around 90cm to 1.2m across over many years. In colder or wetter gardens, grow it as a potted agave plant in the UK and shelter it over winter; like the species \u003cem\u003eAgave ovatifolia\u003c\/em\u003e, it makes a superb container specimen.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEvery Agave 'Shaka Zulu' we send out is a strong, well-rooted, carefully grown plant, hand-selected and packed to arrive in top condition, ready to become the standout feature of your garden for years to come.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"15cm","offer_id":57809513808255,"sku":"AGAVSHAK15","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"url":"https:\/\/growtropicals.com\/products\/agave-shaka-zulu","provider":"GrowTropicals","version":"1.0","type":"link"}