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Agave americana (Century Plant) - A large agave (to over 6 feet tall) with long gray blue-green glaucous leaves that have recurved spines on the margins and a long terminal spine. Yellow-green flowers attract hummingbirds, however the Century Plant doesn't bloom until it is a decade or so old (not a century!) and the flowering rosette dies after flowering with new shoots emerging at its base.
Plant in full sun in moderately well drained soil and irrigate occasionally to not at all in Southern California coastal areas. It is cold hardy to at least 15 degrees F. This is a large dramatic looking plant but care must be exercised when choosing where to plant. Give it plenty of room and situate it away from traffic. Good on a hillside. Use extreme care when working around or trimming any Agave. Not only are the spines wicked and cause a painful swelling if one is poked, but the sap of many species is caustic. Many a person has regretted using a chainsaw, which throws the juices back at the user, to trim an agave.
Agave americana is native to the Chihuahua Desert of central Mexico north into southern and southwestern Texas and possibly Arizona. The name for the genus is one given by Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus when he described this species in the first edition of Species Plantarum in 1753 - it is the type species (generitype) of the genus Agave. The name comes from the Greek word 'agaue' (agauos or agavos) meaning "noble" or "splendid" and originates from Greek mythology. Agaue was the daughter of Cadmus, the king and founder of the city of Thebes, and of the goddess Harmonia. The specific epithet Linnaeus gave this plant, meaning "of America" refers to the origin of this plant though the type location of the plant Linnaeus described is not known as plants had been brought back to Europe by Spanish and Portuguese explorers and colonists as early as the 16th century, but presumably it came from somewhere in central to northern Mexico. Notably the first mention of Agave americana growing in Spain was in 1520 and there was report of one flowering there as early as 1561.
This plant has been commonly planted throughout much of California and there are many cultivars grown. It was planted worldwide for its ornamental value has naturalized in countries across Africa, Europe, Oceania, the Caribbean and Central and South America.
Information displayed on this page about Agave americana is based on our research conducted about this plant in our nursery library as well as from information provided by reliable online resources. We also include our own observations made about it as it has grown in the nursery gardens and other gardens visited, as well how the crops of this plant performed in the containers in our nursery field. We will also include comments received from others and welcome hearing from anyone who has information about this plant, particularly if it includes cultural information aiding others to better grow it.
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