Agave americana L. is a perennial plant forming handsome rosettes of thick, spiny-edged, blue-green leaves, up to 6 ft. long (180 cm). The older leaves often gracefully arch down, suggesting motion, which makes the garden even more intriguing. The plant grows up to 4 meters wide and only slightly smaller, up to 250 cm tall. For a very long period, it gathers strength to produce an upright and very tall stem of 8-9 meters in height, after a minimum of 8-10 years or more (depending on the climate). Flowers are small, yellow, numerous, densely clustered. Flowering takes 2-3 months. After the flowers die and the plant itself dies, however, with the parent plant, a baby is constantly born and the plant is constantly expanding.
Agave americana is native to Mexico and some parts of the southern United States of America. It is widely cultivated and has become naturalised in many parts of South Africa and other temperate, sub-tropical and semi-arid regions of the world.
Hardiness:
Agave americana can tolerate temperatures as low as 10 to 50 °F (-12.2 to 10 °C), USDA hardiness zones 8a to 11b.
How to Grow and Care
Agave americana is a very easy to grow plant. It is a slow growing plant and ought to be abandoned for the pot culture when they reach 61cm (24 inch) across. By this time they will have produced many offshoots which can be potted up and started again over and over. Agave americana will not bloom in a pot.
The sharp spine at the tip of its toothed leaves is often removed to protect people and pets. Locate it at least six feet away from walks and other areas where people could contact the spiny foliage.
Light: Bright sunlight year-round. Consider moving your plants outside during the summer, where they can luxuriate in full sunlight, and make sure they get plenty of winter light.
Water: In spring, water with warm water just as the soil begins to dry out. Don’t let the soil become completely dry. In the winter and fall, when growth is suspended, water very lightly.
Temperature: They prefer warm spring and summer temperatures (70ºF/21ºC – 90ºF/32ºC) and cooler fall and winter temps (50ºF/10ºC – 60ºF/15ºC).
Soil: Use standard succulent or cacti potting mix.
Fertilise: Apply standard liquid fertiliser every two weeks during the active growing period. Do not fertilise the plant during the resting period. - Learn more at HOW TO GROW AND CARE AGAVE
There are several decorative agave cultivars, the leaves of which are usually variations of green-yellow:
- Scientific Name: Agave americana L.
- Synonyms: Agave americana subsp. americana, Agave variegata, Aloe americana, Agave spectabilis,Agave rasconensis
- Common Names: American agave, American aloe, century plant
- Family: Asparagaceae
- Subfamily: Agavoideae
- Species: A. americana
- Genus: Agave
Agave americana is native to Mexico and some parts of the southern United States of America. It is widely cultivated and has become naturalised in many parts of South Africa and other temperate, sub-tropical and semi-arid regions of the world.
Hardiness:
Agave americana can tolerate temperatures as low as 10 to 50 °F (-12.2 to 10 °C), USDA hardiness zones 8a to 11b.
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| source pic: plantlust.com |
How to Grow and Care
Agave americana is a very easy to grow plant. It is a slow growing plant and ought to be abandoned for the pot culture when they reach 61cm (24 inch) across. By this time they will have produced many offshoots which can be potted up and started again over and over. Agave americana will not bloom in a pot.
The sharp spine at the tip of its toothed leaves is often removed to protect people and pets. Locate it at least six feet away from walks and other areas where people could contact the spiny foliage.
Light: Bright sunlight year-round. Consider moving your plants outside during the summer, where they can luxuriate in full sunlight, and make sure they get plenty of winter light.
Water: In spring, water with warm water just as the soil begins to dry out. Don’t let the soil become completely dry. In the winter and fall, when growth is suspended, water very lightly.
Temperature: They prefer warm spring and summer temperatures (70ºF/21ºC – 90ºF/32ºC) and cooler fall and winter temps (50ºF/10ºC – 60ºF/15ºC).
Soil: Use standard succulent or cacti potting mix.
Fertilise: Apply standard liquid fertiliser every two weeks during the active growing period. Do not fertilise the plant during the resting period. - Learn more at HOW TO GROW AND CARE AGAVE
There are several decorative agave cultivars, the leaves of which are usually variations of green-yellow:
- Agave americana 'Marginata' - leaves have yellow or white edges
- Agave americana 'Variegata' - similar to Agave americana 'Marginata' as leaves are colored in streaks of yellow-green
- Agave americana 'Mediopicta' - the leaves are just the opposite of cultivars of 'Variegata', yellowish-white on the inside and green on the edges
- Agave americana 'Striata' - leaves in the middle are narrowly painted with yellow and white colors
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