Agave Species, Foxtail Agave, Dragon-Tree, Spineless Agave, Century Plant, Maguey

On Feb 28, 2020, stephenp from Wirral, UK, Zone 9a,
United Kingdom (Zone 9a) wrote:

A few years ago, I had the good fortune to be able to go to Malaga in Spain, normally I wouldn't be able to afford it, so it was quite a boon really to find somewhere with a different atmosphere than old blighty.

Unfortunately by the second day I was sunburnt because silly me forgot to take my suncream, and the irony was, I nearly slipped on someone elses suncream whilst by the poolside. Anyway fortune would strike as I spied an Aloe barbadensis growing by the pool, so took the opportunity to squeeze some gel out and apply it to the sunburn. Not the best idea in hindsight, as it stunk of rotting flesh, and I came out in a big rash three days later.

Later on the week while I was at the hotel, I spotted one of these Agave attenuatas, which I considered to be q... read moreuite handsome, I even thought of digging it up but thought it would be too risky, so I consoled myself with giving it a hug at 9pm on a sunday evening when it was quiet and no one was watching; That is except for Jose, who gave me a rather unsettling, suggestive look. I'm not sure why but I just got on with things anyway.

On the second to last day I noticed that the Agave had a small volunteer pup growing below the parent plant, so I attempted to divide it from its doting mother... unfortunately I stabbed myself in the eye on the end of one of the leaves and had to be taken to hospital.. double unfortunately I had previously lost my EHIC card, so ended up paying 3000 euros for an overnight stay in the aforementioned hospital.

Against all odds, I managed to lance the Agave pup away from it's parent, and now it sits proudly atop my windowsill.

On May 3, 2017, shnbwmn from Cape Town,
South Africa (Zone 10a) wrote:

Lovely plant, very forgiving. Very much like Yucca in that you can pull/cut it out the ground and leave it laying somewhere for weeks before replanting elsewhere. I've found that it grows best in light shade with regular watering. Looks good in mass grouping.

On Jan 14, 2017, AFinSD from San Diego, CA wrote:

Have seen this plant in various places in San Diego. My spouse and I are particularly fond of the variegated type.

We think they look much nicer than just the plain green ones.

On Feb 26, 2012, 19pidder52 from Las Vegas, NV wrote:

This plant does incredibly well in San Diego....recently I moved to Las Vegas and brought 5 huge containers of the plant with me. The winter cold has nearly destroyed them, however they did well and grew like crazy in October and early November...........does anyone know if I have to throw them out or if they will survive next winter if I cover them with burlap? Anyone with a similar experience please contact [email protected] with advice. The plants are worth 5 to 6 hundred dollars, beautiful and I love them. Any feedback is so appreciated. The nurseries here all give me a different answer. Sad in Vegas

On Jan 12, 2008, htop from San Antonio, TX (Zone 8b) wrote:

I have not grown this plant; however, I have observed it growing in Maui, Hawaii. It grows as a native plant in the mountains of central Mexico. Reportedly, it is rare in its native habitat. It will grow in full sun and poor soils; however, optimum growth is acquired when it has morning sun and afternoon shade or dappled shade with good soil and regular water.

On Sep 22, 2005, BayAreaTropics from Hayward, CA wrote:

Hardier and faster growing than Sunset magazine would lead you to believe.It's a leaner that needs a bit of room. I have seen specimen clumps around the Bay Area. How many other agaves can do well alongside ferns?

On Jul 14, 2003, palmbob from Acton, CA (Zone 8b) wrote:

This is one of the few 'soft and user friendly' agaves. It is grown extensively all over California and is very popular because of its soft, powdery texture, lack of vicious spines and showy blossoms. Some plants become enormous before blooming developing trunks up to 10' long (usually the plant collapses before this and the trunk crawls along the ground), especially if given plenty of water. This is an especially tough Agave to overwater, sometimes performing well in standing water and muddy gardens in So Cal. It is, however, one of the least cold hardy of the Agaves and very cold nights will often damage the foliage (under 26F). This plant also is available in a showy variegated form, as well as a form called A attenuata 'Nova' in which the flowers grow straight up instead of archin... read moreg- see uploaded photos from Pasadena)

Propogation from the profuse suckers they produce along the stem is extremely easy, making this one of the best/easiest agaves to fill an entire yard for cheap. Tends to be overpriced in most nurseries- fast growing plant- buy small- it will be big in no time... and you can have more suckers than you would ever want soon, too.

Just went through an unusual freeze here in the Los Angeles area, and many of these plants completely melted to mush. Was surprised to see them being much less hardy than even most aloe species, many of which were only 'partly' mushed by the freeze of 27F. I still think this is a zone 9b plant, but it obviously cannot tolerate the very bottom of this zone well