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Agave Century Plant

Agave Americana (Agave Century Plant)

Agave Americana (Xeriscape)

Thick and massive gray-green leaves originate from a basal rosette. The leaves get up to 6' long and 10" wide, and have sharp spines on the margins and tips. The margin spines are recurved like fishhooks and the tip spines can be more than an inch long. The flower stalk is branched, 20-40' tall, and bears large (3-4") yellow-green flowers. 

Heat and Drought tolerant
low maintenance

Item

Size
2448 5 Gallon
3293 15 Gallon
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Interesting Notes

Century plant doesn't really take a century to bloom, but it does take 10 years or so in warm regions and as much as 60 years in colder climates. It dies after blooming, but produces offsets throughout its life and these remain to continue the lineage. If the flower stem is cut without flowering, a sweet liquid called agua miel ("honey water") gathers in the heart of the plant. This may be fermented to produce the drink called pluque. The leaves yield fibers, known as pita, which are suitable for making rope, matting, coarse cloth and are used for embrodery of leather in a technique known as piteado.


USDA Hardiness Zone 8B-11

Characteristics & Attributes

Exposure
Sun
Soil Moisture Preference
Average
Dry
Foliage Color
Blue Green
Attributes
Heat Tolerant
Drought Tolerant
Specimen
Focal Point