The Century Plant ‘Agave Americana’

It is commonly known as the American Aloe though it isn’t an Aloe proper. Agave Americana is one of the spiral succulents with leaves on its rosettes forming in the Fibonacci sequence. It occurs in habitats in Mexico and some parts of the Southern United States. 

Family:	Agavaceae/Asparagaceae
Genus:	Agave
Scientific Name:	Angave Americana
Other Names:	American Aloe, Century Plant, Maguey
Growth Season:	Spring and summer
Preferred Temperature:	45oC (113oF) is the best temperature for photosynthesis. However, winter is hardy to between -6.6 and – 3.8oC (20-25oF) if remains in that position for a short time.
Hardiness Zone:	USDA Zone 8-11
Average Mature Height & Width:	One to two meters high a two to four meters wide.
Dormancy:	Its growth slows down in winter.
Toxicity:	It is mildly toxic, containing oxalate crystals on the leaves. These can irritate when touched.

Agave Americana Physical Characteristics

 Its leaves can grow up to 3-5 feet in habitat and spread to ten feet. Of course, it may not reach these sizes as a house plant, especially when potted. Its leaves grow from the very bottom on a short stem. The intense blue-green hue of its leaves.

The leaves are quite large and covered with farina to protect them from getting scorched by the extreme heat to which the plant is often exposed in nature. It is a clustering plant that produces many pups, especially around flowering time. It is monocarpic, and the pups form to ensure the species’ survival after the mother plant’s demise.

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Angave Americana Care

It is an easy-to-keep, hardy plant that is relatively undemanding. It requires regular watering to facilitate growth, especially during the warmer seasons, from spring to autumn. However, it would be best to water it sparingly to prevent waterlogging, making the plant vulnerable to root rot.

The pottage in which you grow should have high gravel content or pumice to facilitate drainage. Well-draining soil and a pot with drainage holes reduce the possibility of overwatering since the substrate won’t retain water. Use the soak and dry watering method to water it. It is the easiest way to avoid root rot.

You can feed the plant once per year with a slow-release fertilizer. The feeding is best done at the beginning of spring because the plant will utilize the fertilizer well throughout the growing season.Give it fertilizer rich in potassium and phosphorus with just a little nitrogen.

You should keep your plant under full sun or partial shade if the sun is too hot. Keeping it under low light reduces its leaves’ darkness, slows growth, and makes the plant leggy while reducing rosette density. The more intense the sunlight, the more intense the leaf’s hue.

DO YOU KNOW? Caring (propagating, pruning/trimming, beheading, watering, …) is a set of skills that is applicable to almost every succulent. Read the in-depth succulent care guide right here >>

Richard from Succulent City

Agave Americana Growth

This plant is suitable for hanging baskets, including specimen planting, succulent gardens, poolside, landscaping, and face containers. You can propagate it by plant division or offsets if it produces any.  

It rarely needs pruning, but you should remove any dead or drooping leaves at the base of the plant to keep it neat. The plant will likely outgrow its pot occasionally, which will need repotting. It is susceptible to pests you should look for, including mealybugs, thrips, eriophyid mites, and scale. Control them using organic systemic or contact pesticides.

Before you leave …

You can see all plants from the Agave genus on Succulent City on this page. Or the previous/next plant:

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