🌱 Morphology
  ×Mangave with a low, spreading habit, featuring a very dense rosette of long, wide, fleshy leaves that are slightly arched outward. The dark green to bluish-green leaves display a spectacular, irregular, very dark burgundy—almost black—mottling, which can overlap and cover a good portion of both surfaces. The margins are wavy and lined with small, lavender-purple teeth that, like the apex, are relatively soft. It reaches approximately 20 cm in height and 50 cm in diameter, although the leaves can exceed 20 cm in length. Its growth is moderately fast, and it produces offsets easily.

🌍 Distribution, habitat, and family
It has no natural distribution: it is an intergeneric horticultural hybrid of ×Mangave, obtained by Hans A. Hansen at Walters Gardens. The patent documents the cross between ×Mangave ‘Bloodspot’ as the female parent and Manfreda ‘Chocolate Chips’ as the male parent, performed in 2011. ×Mangave combines characteristics of Agave and Manfreda, specifically the architectural rosette structure of Agave with the rapid growth and extraordinary foliar patterns of Manfreda.

❄️ Temperature — USDA 8b–10
It tolerates minimum temperatures of approximately −9 ºC, corresponding to the lower limit of USDA 8b, provided the specimen is well-established and the substrate remains dry. The patent notes hardiness at least from USDA 8b to 10, though it cautions that the full limit of winter resistance had not been tested. When grown in pots, it is advisable to provide extra protection against intense cold accompanied by humidity.

☀️ Lighting
It grows best in full sun, where the contrast between the green of the leaves and the intense burgundy mottling reaches its maximum expression. A DLI PAR of 18–30 mol/m²/day is recommended during active growth. In lower light, it may retain its markings, but the color and contrast tend to be less intense.

💧 Growth cycle and watering
Winter dormancy. During spring and summer, it grows rapidly and appreciates abundant but spaced-out waterings, allowing the substrate to dry completely before watering again. Once established, it tolerates prolonged periods of drought. In autumn, watering should be reduced progressively, and during winter, it should be kept practically dry, especially at low temperatures. Drainage must be excellent.

🌸 Flowering
Upon reaching maturity, it can produce a tall, rigid flower spike, far above the rosette. The flowers described in the patent are light wine-colored, with long, divergent filaments and styles, and they produce abundant nectar.

🌿 Nutrition
During the active growth period, Desert CHOICE® Succulents is recommended, as it has a high content of potassium and bioavailable calcium. Apply it with irrigation, avoiding fertilization during winter dormancy.

9x9 cm and 16x16 cm gourmet black pots

This is an inimitable xerophyte grown in Madrid in a high-tech square pot with substrate activated by mycorrhizal fungi and biofungicides.