Agave americana , Century Plant

Max Height: 2m Spread: 3m

Origin: Mexico Family: Agavaceae

Common Name: Century Plant Flower Colour: Yellow

Drought Tolerance: High Salinity Tolerance: Medium

Sun Tolerance: High Wind Tolerance: High

Water Requirement: Low PH Level: Basic

Pest Tolerance: High Disease Tolerance: High

Growth Rate: Slow Fragrance: No

Agave americana ‘Marginata’ is know as Century plant has no stem. Its 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.

Century plant is the common name usually associated with, Agave americana. While there are over 200 species of agave that vary greatly in size and color, century plant is one of the most impressive and show-stopping. Not only does this plant look great in the landscape, it’s a low-maintenance, drought-tolerant plant.

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. Popular cultivars are ‘Marginata’ with yellow margins on the leaves, ‘Mediopicta’ with a broad yellow band down the center of each leaf, and ‘Striata’ with stripes.

Agave plants are easy to grow, but they do have a few “needs” to thrive. They need at least 6 hours of direct sun and well-drained soils. Planting in well-drained soil is particularly important in preventing root rot.

agave americana, Century Plant, marginata