Agave americana is
a rosette-forming perennial succulent that is native to Mexico. Each plant
typically forms a large, evergreen basal rosette of thick, succulent,
lanceolate, gray-green leaves. Each rosette typically matures over time to as
much as 6′ tall by 8-10′ wide. Each leaf has a waxy bloom, spiny tip, and sharp
marginal spines. This plant is also well-known for its infrequent but
spectacular flowering spikes. Plants are monocarpic (bloom only once and then
die). Common name of century plant suggests the plant will live 100 years
before flowering. In reality, outdoor plants typically bloom between the 10th
and 25th years. Indoor plants rarely flower. When an outdoor plant blooms, it
sends up a single, stout, erect flowering stalk from the center of the basal
rosette of leaves to 15-30′ tall or more. The flowering stalk resembles a
narrow telephone pole with horizontal branching near the top. Greenish-yellow
flowers (each to 3-4″ long) bloom in panicles at the branch ends.
Suckers/offsets root at the base of each rosette over time, often forming a
colony of new plants. Once a plant flowers and dies, the offsets around the
base of the plant continue to grow.
Best growth occurs in a sandy/gritty, dry to medium moisture, well-drained soil
in full sun. Container plants may be grown in a gritty, cactus-type potting
mix. Good soil drainage is important. Poorly-drained soils may lead to root
rot. Tolerates dry soils and drought. Garden Uses. Where winter hardy, this
agave serves as an interesting tropical accent or specimen. It is a large and
showy plant for the landscape. It needs a large space in which to grow. Plants
are often grown in cactus or succulent garden areas. It will grow well in
containers as an indoor plant at a much smaller size. Hardy in zones 8-12.
Growing
Instructions
1. The seeds
like moist, well-drained soil. Prepare a mixture of half potting soil and half
sand, perlite or vermiculite. Put the soil in a pot. Water the mixture so that
it is moist but not wet.
2. Put the
seeds on the soil.
3. Cover the
seeds with a thin layer of soil.
4. Water the
seeds.
5. Place the
pots in an area with warm temperatures in full sun or part shade. The
seeds should germinate in two to three weeks, but they may germinate
erratically over a longer period of time.
6. When the
seedlings are a few inches tall, they can be transplanted.
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Zohar (verified owner) –
Great seeds, I now have squash everywhere from this one pack of seeds
Edward (verified owner) –
They arrived very fresh and not bruised. They were delicious.