Product Field NotesCompanion Plants
Silver Fox Mangave: A Glowing Silver Star for Lavender Patios
Save
Silver Fox mangave seems to glow silver at first glance. Look closer and the thick, arching leaves are actually light green under a heavy waxy coating, with faint blue-purple spots showing through. Well-defined teeth line the edges, each leaf ends in a tip spine, and the whole plant forms an open rosette that looks like a pale silver star.
It is a sculptural, sun-loving succulent that shares lavender's need for heat and sharp drainage. In the Great Lakes region, though, it is a summer guest: it lives in a pot and comes indoors before frost.
Silver Fox at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | × Mangave 'Silver Fox' |
| Foliage | Waxy silver over light green, faint blue-purple spots |
| Flowers | Rarely flowers |
| Size | 8 to 10 inches tall, 16 to 18 inches wide |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 9 to 11 (not winter hardy in Michigan) |
| Light | Full sun |
| Wildlife | Deer resistant |
A spiky contrast for soft lavender
Lavender is all soft mounds and wands. Silver Fox is crisp geometry. A pot of it set at the corner of a lavender bed, on a gravel patio or along a sunny step creates a deliberate contrast in form while the silver tones match lavender's foliage. It looks especially good in a low, wide bowl surrounded by gravel, with potted lavender at a slightly taller height behind it.
Because it stays compact, it is easy to move between the patio and a sunny window, which is a mercy when October arrives.
Summer care
- Light: full sun brings out the strongest silver and spotting. Harden off plants moved outdoors in spring, a few hours more each day, so the leaves do not sunburn.
- Soil: gritty cactus or succulent mix in a pot with a drainage hole.
- Water: when the mix is dry. It tolerates humid summers and more rain than most agaves as long as the soil drains quickly.
- Handling: wear gloves; the teeth and tip spines are sharp, and the sap can irritate skin.
Bringing it in for winter
Silver Fox is not winter hardy in Michigan. Before nights drop below about 40°F, move it to a bright window or greenhouse and water sparingly until spring. Check plants kept indoors for mealybugs and scale. Root and crown rot from cold, wet soil is the main risk, so err on the dry side. The Frost Date Estimator helps you time the move in and back out.
Format
Silver Fox is offered as a full 72-cell plug tray, suited to growers and anyone potting up plants for containers and rock gardens. See the product page for current availability.
Frequently asked questions
What is a mangave?
A hybrid between two related succulent groups, agave and manfreda. It combines the sculptural rosette of an agave with faster growth and leaf spotting.
Can I plant it in the ground with my lavender?
Only for the summer in our region. It will not survive a Michigan winter outdoors, so a container is the practical choice.
Does it bloom?
Rarely. It is grown for its foliage.
Share how it went in your field