Other Names:  Agava virginica

Description:

This North American native has succulent clumps of dark green leaves like an agave or yucca; tall spikes produce fragrant tubular greenish yellow flowers that hummingbirds love; good drainage is highly recommended

Ornamental Features

False Aloe features bold spikes of fragrant chartreuse flowers rising above the foliage in mid summer. Its attractive serrated sword-like leaves remain green in color with prominent dark green stripes throughout the season.

Landscape Attributes

False Aloe is an herbaceous perennial with a rigidly upright and towering form. Its relatively coarse texture can be used to stand it apart from other garden plants with finer foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and is best cleaned up in early spring before it resumes active growth for the season. It is a good choice for attracting butterflies and hummingbirds to your yard. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

• Self-Seeding

False Aloe is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• General Garden Use

Planting & Growing

False Aloe will grow to be about 12 inches tall at maturity extending to 30 inches tall with the flowers, with a spread of 12 inches. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 5 years. As an herbaceous perennial, this plant will usually die back to the crown each winter, and will regrow from the base each spring. Be careful not to disturb the crown in late winter when it may not be readily seen!

This plant 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 a low-water garden or xeriscape application. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This species is native to parts of North America.