PlantFiles: Variegated Century Plant
Agave americana 'Variegata'

Nice looking center piece to a garden. Grows well in St. Augustine FL. Take torrential summer rains and stands up to the dryest droughts and heat. Freezes don't bother this agave either, Nice plant

We had this agave in the back of the yard, a rather useless area until we turned that area into a nursery. Now, I would rather have that space for my roses, but I am in awe of this magnificent plant, despite it's horrible thorns. I have tried to find it a home, but no one wants to tackle this baby. I would hate to see something like this become hacked up (it must be against my religion to intentionally kill a plant) so it might just stay. I was watering the plant for the first time to six years as we thought we had found a taker and I wanted to soil easy to dig. What a mistake. It's growing at twice it's normal speed. Those center spikes developed within a week. Those are now lying with all the rest and there is already an entirely new set in the center. OMG, What have I done??

Excellent/hardy grower (I live in the dry CA desert, where there are temperature extremes). CAUTION: DO NOT GROW AROUND small children play areas or pets!! Leaves are spiny and sharp, and tips of leaves have a sharp point that like to regrow after being clipped. I have read they will live a minimum of 30 years and grow to about 10' tall by 6' wide. They propegate VERY WELL and need almost NO WATERING. To propegate, use suckers from the base and plant in well-drained pot. Do not overwater!!!

They make nice potted plants, not a huge root system to worry about when they're young (first 3 years or so), please investigate yourself about mature plants. My neighbor has done an amazing thing with a couple of his plants -- he has removed the lower leaves of his 4' tall Agave to give the plant a tree-like appearance. I will try to put up pictures of his in the near future.

CAUTION: I have read that the sap or drippings are poisonous, so use utmost caution when you're around them! Above all, WEAR GLOVES whenever working with or around the leaves or they will poke you badly (good to have outside of windows to discourage robbers???)

The variegata form of Agave is a beautiful deep green succulent with yellow edging around each of its leaves. Drought-tolerant and cold-hardy, it can be damaged by overwatering. I had an extra plant lay out on the driveway unplanted and rootbare for 3 months and it is still alive and plantable!! They make beautiful border plants and showpieces.

The century plant will produce one large yellow flower on a very long stalk in 10-30 years (so I've read), and after a few weeks of this bloom, the plant will die along with its flower. New plants may be grown from seeds, or propegated from the suckers which pop out over the years.

I encourage more research on this plant, as some sites conflict with others (such as poison level and flowering time)... best to err on the side of caution, however.