Scientific name:
Agave americana
Common name:
American agave, century plant
Range:
Far south Arizona and south Texas. Also naturalized in parts of coastal California
Form:
Large rosettes, sometimes with a short stem. Readily forms clusters via basal shoots
Habitat:
Scrubland, sandy soils
Flowers:
Yellow, in clusters along lateral branches sprouting from the upper half of the 15 to 30 foot tall stalk
Although native to Mexico, and in the US growing wild in a just a few southerly locations in Arizona and Texas, agave americana is commonly used as a landscaping plant, since it is one of the largest and fastest growing of all agaves, producing a rosette 12 feet wide, with green or greyish leaves (sometimes with banded colors) up to 6 feet long. Like most agave, these are lined by sharp teeth, each about 1/3 inch long and an inch or less apart. In mature specimens some leaves curl backwards, resulting in a less symmetric plant.
There are a number of cultivated, smaller-growing varieties which have white or yellow stripes along the edges or the middle of each leaf, and also two sub species (Americana and Protamericana). The plant is found in a few locations in south Arizona, but it is believed these are not native; the only indigenous populations are in Starr County, south Texas.
There are a number of cultivated, smaller-growing varieties which have white or yellow stripes along the edges or the middle of each leaf, and also two sub species (Americana and Protamericana). The plant is found in a few locations in south Arizona, but it is believed these are not native; the only indigenous populations are in Starr County, south Texas.
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