About
Agave geminiflora is a perennial succulent that develops a compact rosette of slender, linear leaves adorned with delicate, thread-like filaments at their margins. During late summer, established specimens generate a tall flowering spike featuring clusters of dark red and yellow blooms. This species can tolerate temperatures down to -5°C when planted in a bright location with excellent drainage.
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, Partial shade
- Soil type
- Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Well-drained
- Aspect
- East-facing, South-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H3
Plant details
- Plant type
- Cactus Succulent, Conservatory Greenhouse
- Habit
- Clump forming
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Height
- 0.5-1 metres
- Spread
- 0.5-1 metres
- Time to full height
- 5-10 years
- Suggested uses
- Architectural, City and courtyard gardens, Coastal, Gravel garden, Mediterranean climate plants, Patio and container plants, Sub-tropical
- Native to
- Mexico
- 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
- Grow under glass in cactus compost, water sparingly when in growth, but keep dry over winter. Apply a dilute, liquid fertiliser 3 or 4 times during the growing season. Outdoors plants can be grown in a raised desert bed but must be given protection from winter wet. See hardy cacti and succulent cultivation for further advice
- Pruning
- No pruning required
- Propagation
- Propagate by seed or removal of offsets
- Pest resistance
- May be susceptible to scale insects
- Disease resistance
- Generally disease-free