Agave americana

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Plant
ID 287 Agave americana
Botanic Name Agave americana
Common Name Century Plant, American Aloe
Family Name Agavaceae
Cultivars 'Blue Glow', 'Gainesville Blue', 'Marginata', 'Marginata aurea', 'Medio-picta Alba', 'Mediopicta', 'Opal', 'Variegata', subsp. protoamericana
Origin Central America, Mexico, Zone 9-12
Growth Type Cacti & Succulents
Bark Type Soft wooded
Foliage Type Evergreen Water Use Low
No. of Species 300
Growth Habit Clumping Growth Rate Fast
Height 1 - 2.5 m (3 - 8 ft) Spread 3 m (10 ft)
Plant Overview
This perennial succulent forms a trunkless rosette of large gray fleshy lanced-shaped leaves that have spines along the margins. The yellowish tube-shaped flowers appear in clusters on a tall tree-like stem from the centre of the plant during summer.
Leaf
Type Spine Additional Information
Shape Lanceolate
The thick leathery gray-green leaves are broad lanceolate, up to 1.8 m (6 ft) long with recurved spines along the margin and the apex is pointed with a large very sharp spine. They are upright at first then arching and are arranged in a rosette.
Arrangement Rosette
Margin Crenulate
Colour Grey-green
Size 300 - 1800 mm ( 11.8 - 70.9 in )
Flower
Perfume Odorless Additional Information
Shape Tubulate
The tubulate flowers have a protruding stigma and styles and are arranged in a corymb-like cluster in a panicle that is held above the foliage on a scape that is up to 12 m (36 ft) high. Appearing in summer.
Inflorescence Panicle
Colour Yellow
Size 60 - 80 mm ( 2.4 - 3.1 in )
Flowering in
(Southern Hemisphere)
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Fruit
Type Capsule Additional Information
Colour Brown
The papery capsule contains numerous flattened black seeds that are viable but the plant is commonly reproduced vegetatively.
Edible No
Bird Attractive No
Size 0 - 0 mm ( 0.0 - 0.0 in )
Fruiting in
(Southern Hemisphere)
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Environment & Cultivation
Natural Soil Well drained, poor sandy/stony to clay loam, dry-moist, acidic, pH 6.0-7.5
Container Tubs, planter boxes, large roof gardens, indoor plant when young
Climate Warm to sub-tropical
Aspect Full sun, open-exposed position, light frost resistant, very drought tolerant
Pest & Diseases Agave snout weevil, anthracnose, leaf spot, leaf blight, scale
Fertiliser Water occasionly during summer and reduce during winter
Pruning Remove dead leaves or suckers as required, take care as it has sharp spines
Cultural Uses Propagation
The Century Plant is grown for its sculptured habit and its resistance to drought. It is planted in arid gardens or large rockeries as a specimen and is commonly found in Mediterranean-style gardens. It is also grown in large tubs.
Sow fresh seed during spring and maintain a temperature of 18 to 21 C (64 to 75 F). Divide offsets when available during spring and place them in a well drained media and allow to the soil to drain away after watering.
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