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Furcraea foetida 'Mediopicta' - A close relative to the Agave, this usually trunkless succulent can reach a size of 6 or more feet tall with an 8 to 10 foot spread with green 4- to 6-foot-long wavy sword-shaped leaves that lack any spines. A decorative creamy band occurs down the middle of the leaf. The flower stalk reaching to 25 feet tall produces strongly scented greenish-white flowers attractive to bees. Flowers are followed by small plants that cover the inflorescence as the basal plant dies.
It performs best in full coastal sun or filtered light and watered infrequently. Some sources list this plant as hardy to USDA zone 9a (20-25° F) but we believe it would require protection in zones lower than 9b (20-25° F). The somewhat similar looking Furcraea selloa var marginata is slightly hardier.
We have long grown this plant from bulbils removed from plants flowering in the landscape. We thank Joe Stead at Orange Coast College for our last batch of these bulbils that he supplied after the plant flowered there in 2022.
The information displayed on this page about Furcraea foetida 'Mediopicta' is based on the research we have conducted about it in our nursery library as well as from information provided by reliable online resources. We also include our own observations made about this plant as it grows in the nursery gardens and other gardens visited, as well how the crops of this plant have performed in the containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments that we have received from others and welcome hearing from anyone with information about this plant, particularly if it includes cultural information that will aid others to better grow it.
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