Agave americana Agave (Agavaceae) Evergreen perennial

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Agave americana
Agave
Evergreen perennial
(1 Page of 5)

The Agave americana plant species is found in Southwestern N. America. Naturalized in the Mediterranean[11]. It is a member of the Agavaceae family. Common gardeners may know the plant as Agave.

Cultivation | Propagation | General Uses
Medicinal | Edible Uses

Latin Name:  Agave americana
Common Name:  Agave
Family:  Agavaceae
Author:  L.

Known Hazards:  Contact with the fresh sap can cause dermatitis in sensitive people[218, 238]. The plants have a very sharp and tough spine at the tip of each leaf. They need to be carefully sited in the garden.

Mature Height:  7.5   Mature Width:  2.5

Habitat:  Original habitat is unknown but it grows wild in Mexico on cultivated land and in pine woods[11].

Cultivation Notes: Requires a very well-drained soil and a sunny position[1, 200]. The agave is not very hardy in Britain, but it succeeds on the south coast of England from Torbay westwards[11]. Plants survived the very cold winters from 1985/1987 unharmed at Glendurgan gardens in W. Cornwall[K]. A monocarpic species, the plant lives for a number of years without flowering but dies once it does flower. However, it normally produces plenty of suckers during its life and these take about 10 - 15 years in a warm climate, considerably longer in colder ones, before flowering[11]. This plant is widely used by the native people in its wild habitat, it has a wide range of uses. In a warm climate suckers take 10 - 15 years to come into flower. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[233].

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Cultivation | Propagation | General Uses
Medicinal | Edible Uses

The information above has been supplied solely via the hard work and dedication of the team at 'Plants for a Future'.
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