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American century plant (Agave americana)

Agave americana is an evergreen, perennial succulent herb that forms a large rosette, with a very short or nearly absent above-ground stem and basal suckers that can form clumps. It is perennial and usually flowers only once after growing for many years; the main plant then dies, while basal offsets generally remain to continue growing.

LightFull sun is preferred, and Agave americana takes full sun; container-grown or indoor plants can accept bright light, while some information indicates tolerance from direct sunlight to shadier conditions.
WaterIt is drought tolerant with low water needs; during active growth, water after the growing medium dries, while in winter watering should be greatly reduced and the medium kept relatively dry rather than persistently wet.
TemperatureLimited source information reports a minimum of about -1.1 °C, and the plant is generally reported to tolerate brief light frost. It is generally reported for USDA hardiness zones from the warmer end of the scale describ
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American century plant illustration

Overview

Agave americana is an evergreen, perennial succulent herb that forms a large rosette, with a very short or nearly absent above-ground stem and basal suckers that can form clumps. It is perennial and usually flowers only once after growing for many years; the main plant then dies, while basal offsets generally remain to continue growing.

Origin and habitat

Sources differ on its North American native range: the core range is described as extending from Mexico to the southern United States, with Texas specifically recorded and some sources also including Arizona and New Mexico. It is associated with arid environments and adapted to dry regions; escaped or naturalized plants also occur in coastal areas, dunes, gravel shores, rocky shores, and scrub. It is suited to dry, hot, or Mediterranean-type climates with relatively little frost, is drought tolerant, and can be cultivated in many frost-free regions worldwide.

Characteristics

Sources differ, but mature plants are reported at about 100–200 cm tall and about 180–400 cm across. Growth is generally reported to be slow, and the plant stores water in its leaves. The thick, succulent leaves are lance-shaped to elongate, gray-green, pale green, or gray-blue, sometimes patterned in cultivated forms, and arranged in a rosette with sharp marginal teeth and a rigid terminal spine. Near the end of its life cycle, a tall, branched panicle emerges from the center of the rosette with mostly yellow to yellow-green flowers; the fruit is reported to be an elongated, three-angled capsule.

Light

Full sun is preferred, and Agave americana takes full sun; container-grown or indoor plants can accept bright light, while some information indicates tolerance from direct sunlight to shadier conditions.

Watering

It is drought tolerant with low water needs; during active growth, water after the growing medium dries, while in winter watering should be greatly reduced and the medium kept relatively dry rather than persistently wet.

Temperature and dormancy

Limited source information reports a minimum of about -1.1 °C, and the plant is generally reported to tolerate brief light frost. It is generally reported for USDA hardiness zones from the warmer end of the scale described by the source, rests in winter, and is reported to have strong heat tolerance.

Growing medium and mounting

Agave americana needs a very fast-draining growing medium, preferably sandy and porous; sandy soil or loam can be used, and a cactus-type mix is suitable for containers.

Feeding

During the growing season it can be fed regularly, with sources describing several schedules using balanced liquid, slow-release, or fast-acting liquid fertilizer.

Propagation

Propagation can be by basal offsets or seed, with offsets separated from the parent plant at an appropriate season and planted separately. Seed is a documented propagation method.

Common problems

Potential pests include agave snout weevils, slugs, snails, scale insects, and thrips. Poor drainage or an overly wet growing medium can lead to root rot, and black spot and rust have also been reported. The large rosette requires ample space, and the sharp leaf margins and tips can cause puncture injuries. It is highly tolerant of drought and heat and has some salt tolerance, making it suited to dry and coastal environments.

Identification

Agave americana forms a large rosette of gray-green to gray-blue succulent leaves with conspicuous spines along the margins and at the tips. Older plants flower only once, producing a huge, heavily branched flower stalk, and commonly produce basal suckers.

Photos

Agave americana
📷 Stan Shebs · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Agave americana
📷 Kolforn (Kolforn) I'd appreciate if you could mail me ( · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Agave americana
📷 Zeynel Cebeci · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source

Sources