Agave Americana

Agave americana, common names century plant, maguey or American aloe, is a species of flowering plant in the family Agavaceae, originally native to Mexico, Arizona and Texas but cultivated worldwide as an ornamental plant.

The century plant typically lives only 10 to 30 years but specimens living longer than that have been reported. A monocarpic succulent, it has a spreading rosette about 4 metres (13 feet) wide of grey/green leaves up to 2 metres (6.6 feet) long, each with a spiny margin and a heavy spike at the tip.

When it flowers, the spike with a cyme of big yellow flowers may reach up to 8 metres (26 feet) in height. Its common name derives from its nature of flowering only once at the end of its long life. It produces suckers or adventitious shoots from the base, which continue its growth.

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Technical notes