x <i>Mangave </i>plant named ‘Frosted Jade’

Abstract

A new and unique x Mangave plant named ‘Frosted Jade’ characterized by moderate to slow growth rate; short, compact, rounded habit and lanceolate foliage with glaucous blue-green margins and light minty-green centers above and below, with small, sharp, firm mucro and small semi-flexible marginal teeth.

Claims

1. A new and distinct cultivar of ornamental x Mangave plant named ‘Frosted Jade’ as herein described and illustrated.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The photograph of the new plant demonstrates the overall appearance of the new plant including the unique traits as a one-year-old plant grown in a container initially in a greenhouse in Zeeland, Mich. with water and fertilizer as needed. The colors are as accurate as reasonably possible with color reproductions. Ambient light spectrum, temperature, source and direction may cause the appearance of minor variation in color.

(2) FIG. 1 shows the new plant from above.

(3) FIG. 2 shows a close-up of the foliage of the new plant.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(4) The following descriptions and color references are based on the 2015 edition of The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where common dictionary terms are used. The new plant, x Mangave ‘Frosted Jade’, has not been observed under all possible environments. The phenotype may vary slightly with different environmental conditions, such as temperature, light, fertility, moisture and maturity levels, but without any change in the genotype. The following observations and size descriptions are of a one-year-old plant in a commercial wholesale greenhouse in Zeeland, Mich. with supplemental water and fertilizer as needed. Botanical classification: Agave times x Mangave hybrid; Variety denomination: ‘Frosted Jade’; Parentage: A whole plant mutation of x Mangave ‘Frosted Elegance’; Propagation: Removal offsets after coring; Time to initiate roots: About 28 days; Growth rate: Moderate; Crop time: About 24 to 30 weeks to finish during lengthening spring days from an established 25 mm tissue culture plug to a 65 mm diameter container; Rooting habit: Fleshy, lightly branching, with roots up to 15 cm long; Root color: Nearest RHS 158C; Plant shape and habit: Succulent herbaceous perennial with basal rosettes of up to about 23 leaves radially emerging and outwardly reaching from central rhizome, producing a symmetrical rounded mound; Plant size: Foliage height about 6.5 cm tall from soil line to the top of the leaves and to about 17 cm wide at the widest point at soil line; Foliage description: Lanceolate; simple; sarcous; fibrous; glabrous; margins finely dentate with semi-flexible teeth; apex acute with short firm mucro; base truncate, sessile, semi-clasping; Leaf size: To about 10.5 cm long, about 20 mm wide near middle and 5 mm thick near base, average about 8 cm long, 16 mm wide and 4 mm thick; typically bi-laterally symmetrical; glabrous and glaucous above and below; adaxial margin to about 4 mm wide and center to about 12 mm wide, abaxial margin about 2.5 mm wide and center to about 15 mm wide; teeth to about 0.8 mm long and 0.8 mm across at base about 3.7 mm apart; mucro about 2 mm long and 0.5 mm wide; Foliage fragrance: None observed; Leaf blade color: Adaxial.—Young margin between RHS N138A and RHS N138B, center nearest RHS 194D. Abaxial.—Young margin between RHS N138A and RHS N138B, center between RHS 194C and RHS 191D. Adaxial.—Mature margin between RHS 191C and RHS N138A, center between RHS 193B and RHS 193C. Abaxial.—Mature margin between RHS 146B and RHS N138C, center nearest blend between RHS 138D and RHS 193B. Teeth.—Abaxial and adaxial on young foliage between RHS 193B and RHS 157D, on mature foliage nearest RHS 191D. Mucro: Terminal spine; firm; straight; sharply pointed; about 2 mm long and 0.5 mm wide; Mucro color.—Adaxial and abaxial on young foliage between RHS 165A and RHS 166B; on mature foliage nearest RHS 200A. Petiole: Sessile; Veins: Parallel; not distinct; Flowering and fruiting have not yet been observed. Disease resistance: X Mangave ‘Frosted Jade’ has not been observed to be resistant or susceptible to diseases common to other x Mangave beyond that which is normal for x Mangave, Agave or Manfreda. Growing conditions: The new plant is xeromorphic and survives well with minimal water once established. Winter hardiness: at least from USDA zone 9 to 11; full extent of winter hardiness has not been tested.