Agave Victoriae-reginae

This plant is a native of Mexico in the states of Coahuila and Nuevo Leon. It is endangered in habitat but very popular as an ornamental plant. It is a very slow-growing plant and one of the most attractive ornamental species.

Family:	Agavaceae/Asparagaceae
Genus:	Agave
Scientific Name:	Angave victoriae – reginae
Other Names:	Queen Victoria Agave, Royal Agave
Growth Season:	Spring and summer
Preferred Temperature:	16 – 20oC (60.8 – 68oF) give or take a few degrees, is the best temperature for photosynthesis. However, it is winter hardy up to – 9oC (15.8oF). It goes dormant at 10oC (50oF)
Hardiness Zone:	USDA Zone 7 – 11
Average Mature Height & Width:	It was about 30 cm tall and about 1 – 2 feet 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 Victoriae-reginae Physical Characteristics

Its rosettes are approximately 45 cm in diameter. Some plants in the species are solitary, but others still have the sucker prolifically. The leaves are short, growing to 15 – 20 cm long, and 3 cm wide. These leaves are also thick and rigid. They have a dark green color with bright white markings on the upper side of the leaves. The leaves don’t have spines on the margins. However, the leaves have a short, dark terminal spine.

The plant also produces inflorescence, which grows like a spike. The inflorescence averages 2 – 4 meters and has several paired flowers. Flowers in one plant can have several colors, but the color scheme will often have some red with purple hues.

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Agave Victoriae-reginae 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. You should water it sparingly to prevent waterlogging, which makes 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 Victoriae-reginae Growth

This plant suits 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. This is usually when it doubles in size. It is susceptible to pests you should look for, including mealybugs, thrips, eriophyid mites, and scale. Control them using organic systemic or contact pesticides. However, keeping the plant healthy is the best defense against these pests.

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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