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  Agave attenuata
(Syn: Agave cernua)
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This species is one of the most popular and  highly ornamental Agaves because it is spineless and forms such a structural low growing form.  One solitary plant can make an imposing statement.
 

Description: A. attenuata “variegata” is a wimpy, but striking and very pricey plant, it is basically same as regular A. attenuata except for the broad, soft, pale blue-green leaves that are marked with contrasting creamy yellow stripes. This cultivar tends to be slower to offset and doesn't seem to grow as fast or get as large. It is thought that it can takes a lot of sun for a variegated plant but a filtered sun spot is surer.
The degree of variegation varies considerably from plant to plant, some are almost completely green with only few thin cream stripes while - on the other extreme - we can found almost completely white ones. The whiter leaved are the more admired and pricey, but also the slower and difficult to grow, especially the very white ones. It makes for a handsome potted plant, especially when highlighted with dark foliage plants such as Black Aeonium. If planted in the ground it will likely form a clump to 90 to 120 cm or more tall by even wider with many rosettes of leaves.  Fear not this plant as it has no spines unlike its prickly cousins.
Stems: Stout curving , often branched, smooth grey stems that rise up to 100 cm tall (unusual among agaves) and eventually old leaves fall off, leaving them naked and visible.
Leaves: Wide, soft,
pliable, somewhat translucent ovate-accuminate, 50-70 cm long and 12-16 cm large. The leaves are powdery green, light yellowish green or grey/blue green.There are no teeth, nor terminal spines, although the leaves taper to points that fray with age. They emerge from a tight central spear to arch gracefully back, looking a bit like a large open green flower.
Flowers: Flowers are pale greenish yellow on a dense raceme 1,5-3,5 long .
Over many months the vertical flower stalk develops, first as a mass of green buds which open from the bottom up into flowers of greenish-yellow, then it reflexes back towards the ground before arching upward again. The flowers are followed by seed pods and from the axils of the flowers many new "plantlets" (or bulbils) will sprout, meanwhile the mother rosette slowly dies. But sometime - unlike other members of it's family - this plant doesn't die after flowering.
Blooming Time: Spring. It may take up to 10 years to bloom.
 


A
s plants get older, they produce smooth curving trunks,  often branched,  that rise  40-100 cm tall (unusual among agaves) and eventually old leaves fall off, leaving them naked and visible.

Some extremely beautiful variegated cultivars have been described. The variegated forms are among of the much sought after and highly prized agaves by collectors,


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Family: Agavaceae

Scientific Name:   Agave attenuata Galeotti 1834

Synonyms:

  • Agave cernua Berger 1915
  • Agave glaucescens Hook. 1862
  • Agave pruinosa Lem. ex Jacobi 1865

Common English Names include: "Fox Tail Agave", "Lion's Tail", "Swan's Neck", "Elephant’s trunk", "Spineless Century Plant", "Gooseneck Succulent" and "Soft Leaved Agave".

Origin:  ative to the plateau of central Mexico (from Jalisco east to Mexico)

Habitat:  Grows in small colonies at elevations of 1,900 to 2,500 meters, this Agave is rare in the wild.

 

 

 


As plants get older, they produce smooth curving trunks,  often branched,  that rise  40-100 cm tall (unusual among agaves) and eventually old leaves fall off, leaving them naked and visible.
 

Cultivation: Agave attenuata is an excellent plant which works well with other succulents or even tropical plant material. It is well suited for a container inside or a sheltered warm spot outdoors. It is a frost tender plant and it will usually be severely damaged in temperatures below -2° C. Although Agave attenuata survives in poor soils and can tollerate full coastal sun to to full shade, it does best in rich but well-drained soil mix ( 2 parts peat moss to 1 part loam to 1 part of pumice) with half sun exposures. The plant is extremely drought tolerant but does better with ample moisture and grows quickly if kept well watered and nourished (Slow release fertilizer applied once or twice a year is usually sufficient). During the winter months, one should only water enough to keep the leaves from shrivelling. Plants cultivated outdoors are more drought tolerant and can take some heat and full sun.  It tolerates seaside conditions too. Protect from snails which can also disfigure the plant.
Offsets or 'pups' can be removed to maintain the strong architectural lines of the agave and provide great additional plants, or left to form a clump.

Propagation: By seeds or by removing suckers produced at the base of older plants or using the thousands of small bulbils produced on its' entire flower stalk length. Seeds germinate readily when they are fresh. The basal suckers can be removed in spring or summer, letting the cuttings dry for a few days before inserting in compost.

Photo of conspecific taxa, varieties, forms and cultivars of Agave attenuata.

 

Photo gallery: Alphabetical listing of Cactus and Succulent pictures published in this site.

Photo gallery Agave

Home | E-mail | Plant files | Mail Sale Catalogue | Links | Information | Search

All the information and photos in cactus art files are now available also in the new the Encyclopaedia of Succulents. We hope you find this new site informative and useful.