Agave attenuata

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Plant
ID 288 Agave attenuata
Botanic Name Agave attenuata
Common Name Century Plant, Lion's Tale, Swan's Neck
Family Name Agavaceae
Cultivars 'Arboleda Blue', 'Boutin Blue', 'Huntington Blue', 'Kara's Stripes', 'Marginata', 'Nova', 'Raea's Gold', 'Ray of Light', 'Swan's Neck', 'Variegata', syn. Agave cernua, Agave glaucescens, Agave pruinosa,
Origin North 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 0.7 - 1 m (2 - 3 ft) Spread 0.5 m (2 ft)
Plant Overview
This perennial succulent has fleshy blue-green lanced-shaped leaves in a rosette on a short twisted trunk and forms a rounded clump. The small green-yellow funnel-shaped flowers appear in a long tapering cluster on a tall stem from winter to spring.
Leaf
Type Simple Additional Information
Shape Ovate
The glaucous green sessile ovate to broad lanceolate leaves are up to 600 mm (2 ft) long by160 mm (6¼ in) wide. The texture is thick, smooth and fleshy with an acuminate apex that has no terminal spine. The leaves tend to fold upwards.
Arrangement Rosette
Margin Entire
Colour Glaucous green
Size 400 - 600 mm ( 15.7 - 23.6 in )
Flower
Perfume Odorless Additional Information
Shape Funnelform
The small 15 mm (2/3 in) long greenish funnelform flowers are arranged in a long spike-like cluster along an arching scape that is up to 2 m (6 ft) long and emerges from the centre of the plant from spring to summer, then dies off.
Inflorescence Cluster or Fascicle
Colour Yellow - green
Size 10 - 15 mm ( 0.4 - 0.6 in )
Flowering in
(Southern Hemisphere)
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Fruit
Type Capsule Additional Information
Colour Green - brown
The fleshy green oblong capsule is up to 30 mm (1 1/8 in) long and turns brown on maturity. It contains numerous small dark seeds that are viable but the plant is normally reproduced vegetatively.
Edible No
Bird Attractive No
Size 20 - 30 mm ( 0.8 - 1.2 in )
Fruiting in
(Southern Hemisphere)
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Environment & Cultivation
Natural Soil Well drained, poor to fertile, sandy-clay loam, pH 6.0-7.5
Container Tubs, large pots, roof gardens, under glass in frost prone climates
Climate Warm to sub-tropical
Aspect Full sun to semi shade, open position, light frost and very drought resistant
Pest & Diseases Susceptible to dracaena thrips, anthracnose, leaf spot, leaf blight, scale
Fertiliser Not necessary and this plant requires no watering during winter
Pruning Remove spent leaves and thin out suckering plants as required
Cultural Uses Propagation
The Century Plant is grown for its attractive leaves and its clumping habit. It is planted in rockeries or along borders as a specimen or in group plantings tolerating exposed positions. It is also grown in patio pots and planter boxes.
Sow fresh seed during spring and maintain a temperature of 18 to 21 C (64 to 75 F). Divide suckering plantlets which are easily transplanted. The trunk may be cut off and then planted directly to a bed but don't over water.
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