Century Plant
- Shipping Available
- Low stock - 2 items left
- Backordered, shipping soon
Agave americana
Agave americana, a native of Mexico, forms rosette-shaped succulents. It has been introduced and naturalized in several tropical areas around the world. This evergreen plant features large, lanceolate, gray-green basal rosettes that can reach a height and width of 6' to 8' over time. Spiny tips, waxy blooms, and sharp margins distinguish each leaf. Infrequent but spectacular flowering spikes are also a highlight of this plant.
The life cycle of Agave americana is monocarpic, meaning it blooms once and then dies. It can live for 100 years before flowering. Hence, it is commonly known as the century plant. Outdoor plants typically bloom between the tenth and 25th year, while indoor plants rarely flower. When an outdoor Agave americana blooms, it sends up a single, erect flowering stalk that can reach 15-30 feet. The flowering stalk resembles a narrow telephone pole with horizontal branching near the top. Greenish-yellow flowers (each 3-4" long) bloom in panicles at the branch ends. Suckers/offsets root at the base of each rosette over time, often forming a colony of new plants. Once a plant flowers and dies, the offsets around the base of the plant continue to grow.
Agave americana is reliably winter hardy in USDA zones 8-10. It thrives best in full sun, sandy/gritty, well-drained, dry to medium moisture soil. Gritty, cactus-type potting mixes can be used for container plants, but a sharp soil drainage system is essential to avoid root rot. Drought and dry soils are acceptable for this plant. It can be propagated from seed or offsets.
BONAP MAP
Height: 6’-12'
Spread: 3’-6'
Bloom: June-July
Light: Full Sun
Water: Low to Medium
Zone: 8, 9, 10, 11
Origin: Texas
Winter Shipping: We will continue to ship throughout winter. If you prefer, we are happy to hold your order until spring; please include that request in your shipping notes.
When you order plants from our nursery, you can expect them to arrive in the best possible condition. Our team carefully packs each order using sturdy, biodegradable packaging materials.
Your plants' appearance may vary depending on the season and their current growth stage. We may cut back the leafy growth of some plants to prepare them for shipment and transplanting.
5 Gallon and Up: Any plant purchased to ship over 5 Gallons will be shipped bare root. This means we will remove the plant from its original pot, remove the soil surrounding the roots, and wrap the roots with a biodegradable plastic bag. This reduces weight and the likelihood of damage during shipping.
Once your plants arrive, it is essential to plant them as soon as possible. This will help them rebound and thrive. If you cannot plant immediately, water regularly and keep the roots off heat-conducting surfaces.
Newly transplanted plants often require more water until their roots are well established. Plan to water them 1-3 times weekly for the first few months.