Other Names:  Pulque Agave, Century Plant

Description:

A huge, rosette forming succulent with gracefully arching dark green leaves that are bluish at the base; towering spikes with clusters of bright yellow flowers when rosettes mature; a great visual accent for rockeries or dry gardens

Ornamental Features

Giant Agave features bold spikes of chartreuse cup-shaped flowers rising above the foliage from late winter to early spring. It has attractive dark green foliage with hints of silvery blue. The large succulent sword-like leaves are highly ornamental and remain dark green throughout the winter.

Landscape Attributes

Giant Agave is a multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its relatively coarse texture can be used to stand it apart from other landscape plants with finer foliage.

This shrub will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and usually looks its best without pruning, although it will tolerate pruning. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

• Suckering
• Spiny

Giant Agave is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• General Garden Use
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Giant Agave will grow to be about 8 feet tall at maturity extending to 15 feet tall with the flowers, with a spread of 8 feet. It tends to fill out right to the ground and therefore doesn't necessarily require facer plants in front, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 20 years.

This shrub should only be grown in full sunlight. It prefers dry to average moisture levels with very well-drained soil, and will often die in standing water. It is considered to be drought-tolerant, and thus makes an ideal choice for xeriscaping or the moisture-conserving landscape. It is not particular as to soil pH, but grows best in poor soils. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This species is not originally from North America, and parts of it are known to be toxic to humans and animals, so care should be exercised in planting it around children and pets. It can be propagated by multiplication of the underground bulbs.

Giant Agave makes a fine choice for the outdoor landscape, but it is also well-suited for use in outdoor pots and containers. Its large size and upright habit of growth lend it for use as a solitary accent, or in a composition surrounded by smaller plants around the base and those that spill over the edges. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when grown in a container, it may not perform exactly as indicated on the tag - this is to be expected. Also note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.