Succulent of the Month: Agaves

By Kyle Williams

Agaves are one of, if not THE, most popularly grown succulents in California and the Southwest. It is hard to go down any street in our region without seeing at least one Agave americana, A. attenuata, A. potatorum, or a host of other species. They are easy to grow, come in a great variety of sizes and shapes, and most thrive on neglect. No wonder they are so popular!

Agaves, like the Cacti, are entirely new world in origin, although many members have been naturalized around the world. Agaves are native to Southern North America, Mexico, Central America, Northern South America and the Caribbean. A few species are native to the deserts of Southern California. There are roughly 200 species of Agave and countless varieties and cultivars, with new species being discovered regularly. Some species are so common in cultivation that you practically can’t give them away while others (such as A. albopilosa) command $100 or more for a small plant.

Many people shy away from Agaves because they think the plants are all spiny giants that take over half of your yard. While species like A. americana and A. mapisaga certainly fit that description, there are lots of well-behaved small to mid-sized species such as A. victoriae-reginae, A. potatorum, A. isthmenensis which can even be grown in a pot (hopefully so or we won’t have any entries for our contest!).

If stiff leaves and sharp spines are the problem then A. attenuata is perfect for you. Its leaves are so soft and lush that it would look right at home in a tropical planting instead of a xeric one. Agaves are easily grown from seed. Although many of members of this genus grow very large with age, they are particularly good looking as seedlings, and can be kept small for many years in pots. They thrive with regular feeding with any general purpose fertilizer. Their appearance is best when they are cleaned regularly, with debris removed from the leaves, and dead leaves removed to prevent insects from making homes. Many offset freely, and these offsets can be removed and repotted, giving a steady supply of small plants. Many growers keep the offsets, and dispose of the mother plant, keeping size, health and condition under control. Agave flowers are spectacular with spikes that sometimes reach as high as 20 feet. After flowering, the agave mother plant dies back.