Agave

There are several hundreds species of Agave. They have been popular in many Mediterranean gardens in Europe since they were brought back from the Americas by the Spaniards and Portugueses in the 17th century, and before that they were cultivated for centuries by the native American population for fibers, food and drinks.

Nowadays they are very useful plants in desert gardens. If your climate is warm enough, you will most certainly find several species for your garden that will be very tough, will thrive with much additional water, and will be a source of enjoyment for many years.

Agaves are succulent rosettes, often clumping, occasionally on short trunks. They generally have a sharp spine at the end of their leaves, and for this reason should be away from paths. Each rosette blooms after many years (generally at least 8). The blooming rosette uses all its energy to produce the giant towering bloom, and seeds. When it has finished blooming, in almost all the species, the rosette dries out. Some species produce a large quantity of new plants on the flower stem (bulbils). These can be detached and planted.

Species and varieties
Agave × leopoldii
Agave altissima (Century Plant, Maguey) synonym of Agave americana
Agave americana (Century Plant, Maguey)
Agave americana var. theometel (Century Plant, Maguey) synonym of Agave americana
Agave applanata var. huachucensis (Ft. Huachuca Agave) synonym of Agave parryi var. huachucensis
Agave chrysantha (Golden-Flowered Agave)
Agave communis (Century Plant, Maguey) synonym of Agave americana
Agave complicata (Century Plant, Maguey) synonym of Agave americana
Agave consideranti (Queen Victoria Agave) synonym of Agave victoriae-reginae
Agave consociata (Desert Agave) synonym of Agave deserti ssp. deserti
Agave deserti ssp. deserti (Desert Agave)
Agave discreptata (Maguey) synonym of Agave filifera ssp. schidigera
Agave eduardii (Octopus Agave) synonym of Agave vilmoriana
Agave felina (Century Plant, Maguey) synonym of Agave americana
Agave ferdinand-regis (Queen Victoria Agave) synonym of Agave victoriae-reginae
Agave filifera ssp. schidigera (Maguey)
Agave franchesiana (Weber Agave) synonym of Agave weberi
Agave fuerstenbergii (Century Plant, Maguey) synonym of Agave americana
Agave gracilispina (Century Plant, Maguey) synonym of Agave americana
Agave houghii (Octopus Agave) synonym of Agave vilmoriana
Agave huachucensis (Ft. Huachuca Agave) synonym of Agave parryi var. huachucensis
Agave hystrix (Hedgehog Agave) synonym of Agave stricta
Agave ingens (Century Plant, Maguey) synonym of Agave americana
Agave ingens var. picta (Century Plant, Maguey) synonym of Agave americana
Agave maculosa (Texas Tuberose)
Agave mayoensis (Octopus Agave) synonym of Agave vilmoriana
Agave melliflua (Century Plant, Maguey) synonym of Agave americana
Agave milleri (Century Plant, Maguey) synonym of Agave americana
Agave murpheyi (Murphy's Agave, Hohokam Agave)
Agave nevadensis (Nevada Agave) synonym of Agave utahensis ssp. nevadensis
Agave nickelsii (Queen Victoria Agave) synonym of Agave victoriae-reginae
Agave palmeri (Palmer's Agave)
Agave palmeri var. chrysantha (Golden-Flowered Agave) synonym of Agave chrysantha
Agave parryi var. huachucensis (Ft. Huachuca Agave)
Agave parryi var. truncata (Mescal Agave)
Agave perplexans (Maguey) synonym of Agave filifera ssp. schidigera
Agave picta (Century Plant, Maguey) synonym of Agave americana
Agave ramosa (Century Plant, Maguey) synonym of Agave americana
Agave rasconensis (Century Plant, Maguey) synonym of Agave americana
Agave schidigera (Maguey) synonym of Agave filifera ssp. schidigera
Agave spectabilis Salisbury (Century Plant, Maguey) synonym of Agave americana
Agave striata var. stricta (Hedgehog Agave) synonym of Agave stricta
Agave stricta (Hedgehog Agave)
Agave subzonata (Century Plant, Maguey) synonym of Agave americana
Agave theometel (Century Plant, Maguey) synonym of Agave americana
Agave toumeyana ssp. bella
Agave utahensis ssp. nevadensis (Nevada Agave)
Agave variegata Hort.ex Steud. (Century Plant, Maguey) synonym of Agave americana
Agave vestita (Maguey) synonym of Agave filifera ssp. schidigera
Agave victoriae-reginae (Queen Victoria Agave)
Agave vilmoriana (Octopus Agave)
Agave virginica Miller (Century Plant, Maguey) synonym of Agave americana
Agave weberi (Weber Agave)
Agave wrightii (Maguey) synonym of Agave filifera ssp. schidigera
Agave zonata (Century Plant, Maguey) synonym of Agave americana

© 2004 Philippe Faucon, All Rights Reserved.