Earlier this week I was gifted two Mangave "Pineapple Express". The person who gifted them to me must have seen the Agave's in my garden and asked for something similar in a garden center or something and be upsold this junk. I made no mystery I did not want them but I am stuck with them nonetheless.

As I had no clue what these plants were (besides being intergeneric hybrids) I looked them up and to say I am less than enthused would be an understatement. They are the Agave's wimp siblings: the fact they have no frost resistance, even to our sorry excuse for a Winter, says it all. Are they really as frost tender as they say? Because I have zero intention of keeping them inside.

Is there any hope these sorry excuses for plants can survive outside or I am just better off throwing them in the chipper the first time I turn it on?

They are hardy to zone 9a, according to the database. Is that not hardy enough? I don't know what zone you're in.

Thanks. Temperatures in the winter here usually drop to 25F, maybe 20F for a few days here and there, so 9a is really borderline. The Agave have literally no problems staying outside all winter long, but the Flapjack needs to come inside during Winter. It's a tricky situation in short.

I guess the best move would be to find a spot with a slightly improved microclimate (like next to the house, under cover, by a south facing wall or whatever) and hope for the best. It sounds like there is a reasonable chance these plants make it through an average winter at least, given a strategic position.

Thanks a lot. The house faces straight south: I'll put them there and hope for the best.

Thanks again.