About

Agave amica features long, narrow leaves and produces clusters of white, waxy, funnel-like blossoms during the summer months. Renowned for its strong fragrance, it is particularly valued as a cut flower.

About the genus

Agave consists of either perennial or monocarpic succulents that develop rosettes of typically stiff, thick, spiny leaves. The plants produce funnel-shaped flowers in racemes or panicles that often exceed the height of the rosettes.

Growing conditions

Sunlight
Full sun
Soil type
Loam
Soil pH
Neutral
Soil moisture
Well-drained
Aspect
South-facing
Exposure
Sheltered
UK hardiness
H2

Plant details

Plant type
Conservatory Greenhouse
Habit
Columnar upright
Foliage
Deciduous
Height
0.5-1 metres
Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height
1-2 years
Suggested uses
Patio and container plants
Fragrance
Flower
Toxicity
Skin irritant. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. Pets (dogs, cats): harmful if eaten. For further information and contact numbers regarding pets, see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants

Care notes

Cultivation
Requires a minimum temperature of 15°C, so must be overwintered indoors. Dry off pots at the end of summer when leaves begin to die down, beginning watering and feeding again in spring. See houseplant cacti and succulent cultivation for further information
Pruning
No pruning required
Propagation
Propagate by seed or offsets in spring
Pest resistance
May be susceptible to scale insects
Disease resistance
Generally disease-free