Agave americana
American Century Plant
One of the most common agaves in landscapes, the American century plant is also one of the largest, and can get 6-10’ tall. This is a monocarpic species (blooms at the end of its life) with bright yellow flowers atop a towering bloom stalk that can reach 30’ tall. Plants sucker freely to make enormous colonies.
There are some common selections:
'Marginata' has yellow stripes along the margins of each leaf
'Mediopicta' has a broad cream central stripe
'Mediopicta Alba' with a central white band
'Mediopicta Aurea' with a central yellow band
'Striata' with multiple yellow to white stripes along the leaves
'Variegata' with white edges on the leaves.
Plant in full to part sun, low water when established, hardy to 10°F.
Important nectar plant for bats, hummingbirds, and the many other pollinators that take advantage of the copious nectar produced in agave flowers. The old bloom stalks are used by native bees for larval nests. Old bloom stalks are also excellent bird perching locations—giving birds a safe place to scope out the area. Many animals find habitat amongst large colonies of agaves.
This agave is used to make food, pulque, mescal, fiber, and medicine all over the world.
The genus Agave is derived from Greek mythology being the daughter of Cadmus, who supposedly founded the city of Thebes; it generally translates to mean “noble’. The species name americana refers to the continent of its nativity.
Agave americana is believed to have originated from the arid and semi-arid subtropical climates of North-Eastern Mexico. It was domesticated at least 10,000 years ago, and has been used since as a source of fibre, food and beverage throughout Central and South America which makes certainty on its origin difficult.
Photo by Stephanie Brundage, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
A. americana 'marginata', photo by Mountain States Wholesale Nursery
A. americana 'mediopicta alba', photo by Mountain States Wholesale Nursery
Bloom Stalk, Photo by Ray Matthews, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center