About
Agave salmiana var. ferox is a perennial succulent that develops a rosette shape and features a robust stem, reaching heights of up to 4 meters. Its leaves are a dark greyish-green and are characterized by sharp, hooked spines along the edges. After several years of growth, this plant produces dense clusters of greenish-yellow flowers atop upright, branching stems that can extend to 10 meters in height.
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
- Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid
- Soil moisture
- Well-drained
- Aspect
- South-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H2
Plant details
- Plant type
- Cactus Succulent, Conservatory Greenhouse
- Habit
- Bushy
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Height
- 2.5-4 metres
- Spread
- 2.5-4 metres
- Time to full height
- 10-20 years
- Suggested uses
- City and courtyard gardens, Sub-tropical, Architectural, Gravel garden, Patio and container plants
- Native to
- C 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 in full light. Water freely in summer, giving a low-nitrogen feed three or four times. Water less in autumn and keep dry in winter. Can move outdoors for summer. See houseplant cacti and succulent cultivation for further information
- Pruning
- No pruning required
- Propagation
- Propagate by seed, or remove offsets
- Pest resistance
- May be susceptible to scale insect
- Disease resistance
- Generally disease-free