About
This evergreen perennial develops a compact rosette comprised of sturdy, upright leaves that are dark green and feature spiny tips, reaching lengths of up to 30 cm. It produces creamy-white flowers arranged in slender, upright or slightly arching racemes that can extend up to 4 m tall.
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, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Well-drained
- Aspect
- South-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H2
Plant details
- Plant type
- Cactus Succulent, Conservatory Greenhouse
- Habit
- Tufted
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Height
- 0.1-0.5 metres
- Spread
- 0.1-0.5 metres
- Time to full height
- 5-10 years
- Suggested uses
- Patio and container plants, Coastal, Mediterranean climate plants
- 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 a standard cactus compost, water freely in summer and apply a balanced liquid fertiliser 3-4 times during the growing season. May be bedded or stood out in borders or patios in summer. Keep almost dry in winter. Provide winter protection, or grow in a container and overwinter in a greenhouse or conservatory. See houseplant cacti and succulent cultivation for further information
- Pruning
- No pruning required
- Propagation
- Propagate by offsets taken in spring or autumn
- Pest resistance
- May be susceptible to scale insects
- Disease resistance
- Generally disease-free