Agave parryi Century plant (Agavaceae) Evergreen perennial

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Agave parryi
Century plant
Evergreen perennial
(1 Page of 5)

The Agave parryi plant species is found in Southwestern N. America - Arizona to New Mexico. It is a member of the Agavaceae family. Common gardeners may know the plant as Century plant.

Cultivation | Propagation | General Uses
Medicinal | Edible Uses

Latin Name:  Agave parryi
Common Name:  Century plant
Family:  Agavaceae
Author:  Engelm.

Known Hazards:  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:  0.5   Mature Width:  1

Habitat:  Semi-arid land, 1300 - 2400 metres, often experiencing snow in winter with temperatures as low as -18°c for short periods[181].

Edible Uses: The heart of the plant is very rich in saccharine matter and can be eaten when baked[2, 105]. Sweet and nutritious, but rather fibrous[213]. It is partly below ground[85]. Seed - ground into a flour and used as a thickener in soups or used with cereal flours when making bread[92]. Young flower stalk - raw or cooked[257]. It was generally roasted[177, 183]. Tender young leaves - roasted[161]. Sap from the cut flowering stems is used as a syrup[177]. Nectar from the flowering stems is made into a sweet syrup[183]. The sap can also be tapped by boring a hole into the middle of the plant at the base of the flowering stem[213]. It can be fermented into 'Mescal', a very potent alcoholic drink[213].

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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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