A large Agave that makes for a dramatic focal point in a landscape, Agave americana can grow up to 6 feet tall and 10 feet wide. Its silvery blue, sword-shaped leaves can grow up to 5 feet long and often curve downward with age. Grows as a single rosette and is very slow to produce offsets or flower. It often takes a couple of decades for it to flower, at which point it will send up a 15 to 25 foot stalk topped with yellow flowers. Once it has bloomed, the primary rosette will die and the plant will grow as a clump of smaller offsets. Due to its sharp teeth and terminal spines, it should be planted where it will be out of reach of people and pets. Inland, it prefers full sun to light shade although it does tolerate part shade better than other Agaves. Plant in very well-draining, even gravelly soil. Water infrequently to not at all once established. We grow a medium-sized selection of Agave americana called ‘Silver Surfer’ and the variegated varieties medio-picta ‘Alba’ and marginata. There are a number of seed grown variants of A. americana that circulate in the market, some that do not exhibit the characteristics that most S. California residents are accustomed to for this species.
- Common Name:
- Century Plant
- Mature Height:
- 4-6'
- Mature Spread:
- 5-10'
- Exposure:
- Sun/Light Shade
- Growth:
- Evergreen
- Flower Color:
- Yellow
- Soil:
- Not particular
- Foliage Color:
- Blue/Grey
- Flower Time:
- Spring - Summer
