The agave plant has wicked spines at the leaf tips and sometimes along the leaf edges. Spines tend to be much darker than the rest of the leaf, and add strong ornamental interest. As the leaves of the agave grow, the spines are harder than the developing leaf tissue and form a permanent indentation or scar that continues to grow with the leaves. When agaves bloom, clusters of flowers form along a tall stalk. Although individual flowers are simple with small petals, in clusters they are impressive. Some of the plants can take up to 100 years to bloom, hence the common name of century plant. Many varieties bloom faster, generally 3-7 years. Once the plant blooms, the mother plant dies. Luckily, “pups,” or baby plantlets, emerge at the base as the mother plant fades. Some also grow new plantlets along the bloom stalk. Try out desert landscape ideas for new gardeners.
Agave Care Must-Knows
Don’t be intimidated by these succulents. Agaves are extremely easy to grow as long as you keep one important factor in mind: Do not overwater them. The easiest way to kill a succulent is keeping the soil too wet. In order to help prevent rot, make sure to plant agaves in well-drained soil (avoid clay). If keeping your agave dry in the ground is a problem, consider a container. Use a well-drained potting mix, and let the soil dry out between watering times. During the growing season, agaves can tolerate fairly regular moisture. But wet winters can lead to rot. Sunlight is another important factor. To thrive, they need full sun. In shade, they often get leggy and lose some of their striking architecture. They are also at more of a risk of rotting. Check out more low-maintenance desert perennials here.
