Product Field NotesCompanion Plants
Praying Hands Mangave: A Sculptural Summer Pot Among the Lavender
Save
Praying Hands mangave is a succulent that seems to be keeping a secret. Its thick, dark green leaves curve upward and inward, overlapping into a closed rosette shaped like a teardrop or an artichoke, and their cinnamon-brown tip spines nearly meet at the top. It stays small, about 8 to 10 inches tall and wide.
It loves full sun and sharp drainage, just like lavender, but it is not winter hardy in Michigan. So think of it as a summer guest: a pot set among the lavender beds or on a sunny gravel patio, then moved indoors before frost.
Praying Hands at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | × Mangave 'Praying Hands' |
| Foliage | Thick, cupped, dark green leaves curving inward; cinnamon-brown tip spines |
| Form | Compact, closed, upright rosette |
| Size | 8 to 10 inches tall and wide |
| Flowers | Rarely flowers |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 9 to 11; a summer container plant in Michigan |
| Light | Full sun |
| Deer | Resistant; rabbits ignore it too |
Bold shape beside soft lavender
Lavender is fine-textured and airy. Praying Hands is solid, glossy and sculptural. Set a pot of it at the corner of a lavender bed, line a few along a gravel path, or group it with other sun-lovers on a hot patio. The contrast makes both plants look more deliberate. Because it never flowers much, it holds the same shape from spring to fall while the lavender changes around it.
It also tolerates humid summers and more rain than most agaves, as long as the pot drains fast. Plan the container spots in the Companion Plant Planner.
Container care
- Mix: gritty, fast-draining soil or cactus mix, in a pot with drainage holes.
- Water: when the soil is dry, then let it dry again. Wet, cold soil causes root and crown rot.
- Sun: full sun gives the strongest leaf color. Harden off plants moved outdoors in spring so the leaves do not sunburn.
- Handling: wear gloves. As with agave, the sap can irritate skin, and the tips are spiny.
Bringing it in for winter
- Watch the forecast in fall and move the pot indoors before nights fall below about 40°F.
- Give it your brightest window or a greenhouse bench.
- Water sparingly until spring.
- Check for mealybugs and scale, which can show up on plants wintered indoors.
The Frost Date Estimator can help you guess when to bring it in.
About the plug tray
Praying Hands is offered as a 72-cell plug tray, suited to growers potting up their own containers. See the product page for current availability.
Frequently asked questions
Can I plant it in the ground with my lavender?
Only for the summer. It is hardy outdoors in zones 9 to 11, so in Michigan it needs to come indoors before frost. A pot makes that easy.
Is it related to Praying Hands hosta?
No, they just share a name for their cupped shape. The hosta is a shade perennial; this is a sun-loving succulent.
Share how it went in your field