Agave for Landscaping

Description

• There are many varieties of agave, ranging in size from small to large and having many types of leaves. Plants can have spiny leaves with sharp or prickly edges to softer, smoother leaves, with color variations including bright green, blue-green, silvery green and variegated. Some of the varieties have a protective waxy coating known as cuticle, which is the plant's way of conserving moisture.

Benefits

• When mixed with other succulents such as yuccas and cacti, agave creates interest by presenting several sizes, textures and colors. By adding perennial flowering plants that have the same moisture requirements as agave and yucca, landscaping can be even more colorful with very little maintenance.

Planting

• Plant agave no more than 1/4 inch deeper than in the nursery container. Some types of succulents don't do well when organic materials come into contact with their stems, so let those make up the depth and use decomposed granite or crushed rock as mulch. Let soil dry between waterings, and keep in mind that deep watering isn't necessary, because the roots are located just below the surface.

Fun Fact

• The largest variety of agave is the Century plant, which is blue-gray in color, with leaves growing up to 6 feet in length. The mammoth plant's bloom stalk is capable of reaching up to 35 feet tall. Different parts of the Century plant were used by Indians for food, medicine, soap and weapons.