Product Field NotesCompanion Plants
Snow Leopard Mangave: Spotted Cream-Edged Leaves for Summer Pots
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Snow Leopard mangave earns its name up close. Its long, lance-shaped leaves have green centers dotted with dark spots and wide creamy white margins, and where the spots land on the pale edges they turn cherry red to pink, like a big cat's coat. From a distance the open rosette reads as a bright green-and-white star.
It holds the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit, and in our region it makes a striking summer container next to lavender before heading indoors for the winter.
Snow Leopard at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | × Mangave 'Snow Leopard' |
| Foliage | Green centers, creamy white margins, dark spots that turn red to pink on the edges |
| Flowers | Rarely flowers |
| Size | 16 to 18 inches tall, 22 to 24 inches wide |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 9 to 11 (not winter hardy in Michigan) |
| Light | Full sun |
| Wildlife | Deer resistant |
A specimen pot for the lavender garden
Snow Leopard is big enough, about two feet across, to act as a focal point. Set a single pot at the end of a lavender row, on a gravel patio, or flanking a sunny step. The cream variegation reads clearly from across the yard, and the spiky geometry makes lavender's soft mounds look even softer. Because it shares lavender's love of sun and sharp drainage, you can care for the pot and the bed on the same dry schedule.
The spotting deepens in full sun, so give it the brightest spot you have. It also grows at a moderate to rapid pace and produces offsets, so you may find yourself with pups to pot up and share.
Summer care
- Harden off: when moving it outdoors in spring, increase sun exposure over a week or so to avoid leaf burn.
- Potting mix: gritty cactus or succulent mix, in a container with a drainage hole.
- Water: when the mix is dry. It handles humid summers and more rain than most agaves if drainage is quick.
- Handling: the edges have small teeth and each leaf ends in a tip spine, and the sap can irritate skin. Gloves help.
Overwintering indoors
Before nights fall below about 40°F, bring the pot inside to a bright window or greenhouse. Water sparingly until spring; cold, wet soil causes root and crown rot. Check for mealybugs and scale while it is indoors. Time the move with the Frost Date Estimator.
Format
Snow Leopard is offered as a full 72-cell plug tray, well suited to growers and anyone potting up specimens for containers. See the product page for current availability.
Frequently asked questions
Can I leave it outside over winter in Michigan?
No. It is hardy only in zones 9 to 11, so grow it as a summer container plant and bring it in before cold nights.
Why are the spots pink on the edges?
The dark spots show as red to pink where they fall on the pale cream margins. Full sun makes the spotting stronger.
How is it different from Silver Fox mangave?
Snow Leopard is larger and variegated with creamy edges and bold spots. Silver Fox is smaller with a waxy silver coating.
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