Product Field NotesCompanion Plants
Purple People Eater Mangave: A Spotted Purple Rosette for Sunny Pots
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Purple People Eater mangave forms a neat, symmetrical rosette of thick, sturdy blue-green leaves so densely covered in reddish-purple spots that the whole plant reads purple from across the patio. The leaf edges fold upward to show small spines in yellow, orange and cinnamon, and each leaf ends in a cinnamon tip. Despite the name, it has not eaten anyone yet.
It wants the same full sun and sharp drainage as lavender, but it is not winter hardy in Michigan. Grow it as a summer container among the lavender beds, then bring it indoors before frost.
Purple People Eater at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | × Mangave 'Purple People Eater' |
| Foliage | Blue-green, densely spotted reddish purple; yellow to cinnamon edge spines |
| Form | Neat, symmetrical rosette |
| Size | 12 to 16 inches tall, 16 to 24 inches wide |
| Flowers | Rarely flowers |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 9 to 11; a summer container plant in Michigan |
| Light | Full sun |
| Deer | Resistant |
A purple accent with a different texture
Most purple in a lavender garden comes from soft, fine flowers. Purple People Eater brings purple in bold, solid form. A single pot at the end of a lavender row, on a step or beside a gravel path makes a strong focal point, and the warm-colored spines pick up the light in a way lavender never will.
At up to 2 feet wide, it fills a medium to large container on its own. Pair it with smaller sun-lovers in a gritty mix, or let it stand alone as a specimen. It tolerates humid summers and more rain than most agaves, as long as the pot drains quickly. Map pot locations in the Companion Plant Planner.
Summer care
- Mix and pot: gritty soil or cactus mix in a pot with drainage holes.
- Water: soak when dry, then let it dry again. Wet, cold soil is the main cause of rot.
- Sun: the more sun, the stronger the spotting. Harden it off gradually in spring to avoid sunburned leaves.
- Handling: wear gloves. The edge and tip spines are sharp, and as with agave, the sap can irritate skin.
Winter indoors
Purple People Eater is not winter hardy in Michigan. Bring it inside before nights drop below about 40°F, give it a bright window or greenhouse and water sparingly until spring. Check now and then for mealybugs and scale, which can show up on plants wintered indoors. The Frost Date Estimator helps you plan the move.
About the plug tray
It 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 it go in the ground for summer?
It can, in a sunny, sharply drained spot, but you will need to dig it up before frost. Most gardeners find a pot simpler.
How is it different from Praying Hands mangave?
Praying Hands is small and closed, with dark green leaves curled inward. Purple People Eater is larger and open, with purple-spotted leaves.
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