About
Agave geminiflora 'Rasta Man' is a perennial succulent that develops a compact rosette of slender, needle-like leaves. The leaf margins are adorned with numerous delicate, curly white threads. During late summer, established specimens produce an elongated inflorescence featuring pairs of yellow-green blossoms.
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
- South-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H3
Plant details
- Plant type
- Cactus Succulent, Conservatory Greenhouse
- Habit
- Bushy
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Height
- 0.5-1 metres
- Spread
- 0.5-1 metres
- Time to full height
- 10-20 years
- Suggested uses
- City and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden, Gravel garden, Mediterranean climate plants, Patio and container plants, Rock garden
- 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 in well drained soil in a warm, sheltered spot in full sun. Water freely in summer and apply a balanced liquid fertiliser 3-4 times in the growing season. Keep almost dry in winter. Plants typically take 10-15 years to flower. Provide winter protection, or grow in a container and overwinter in a greenhouse or conservatory. See hardy cacti and succulent cultivation for further information
- Pruning
- No pruning required
- Propagation
- Propagate by seed. Plants are monocarpic (they die after flowering) and rarely produce offsets
- Pest resistance
- May be susceptible to scale insects
- Disease resistance
- Generally disease-free