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Agave salmiana 'Green Giant' (Giant Agave) - This large succulent is recognizable by its thick, graceful, dark gray-green out-curving leaves with projecting spines and massive stature, reaching to 5-6 feet tall by twice as wide. When the plant matures and blooms, the tall candelabra inflorescence rises to over 20 feet with branches bearing yellow flowers
Plant in full sun where it is drought tolerant. Howard Scott Gentry noted in his book Agaves of Continental North America that this plant is sensitive to frosts however we had it weather through nights that dropped to 18 °F in the Christmas 1990 freeze without damage. It produces ample suckers which can lead to a large colony if suckers are not removed. When it blooms, which in our garden happened when plants reached 12 to 15 years in age, the flowers attract birds and bees. A real specimen agave that becomes an architectural element in the garden tough it is not for the timid! 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.
The origins of this particular variety of Agave salmiana are unknown. It differs from other Agave salmiana in its massive stature, urceolate form and the shiny green leaves with short acuminate leaf tips. It was noted in cultivation in the Tehuacan and Puebla regions, probably because Agave salmiana is considered to be the great wine making agave "maguey de pulque" and was long cultivated for this purpose. This plant has also been in cultivation in Europe since the 19th century.
In southern California this large dark green plant has long been identified as Agave salmiana var. ferox but in consensus with several Agave experts in Texas, we now this plant to actually be a nice form of Agave salmiana; the variety ferox should be a much smaller plant such as the plant we also grew called Agave salmiana 'Green Goblet'.
Information displayed on this page about Agave salmiana 'Green Giant' 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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