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    Home»Succulents and Cacti»Agave Americana (Century Plant): Growing And Care Guide

    Agave Americana (Century Plant): Growing And Care Guide

    By Milo MasonOctober 10, 2022
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    If you’re looking to add a new plant to your home, we’ve got just the one for you: Agave americana!

    Large Agave Americana
    Large agave americana (author veranika848 via depositphotos (large central tree-like))

    It’s easy to care for, needs very little water, and thrives under neglect. Learn how to care for this beautiful Agave today!

    in this article:

    • care
    • pruning
    • repotting
    • propagation
    • blooms
    • pests
    • common-problems

    About Agave americana

    Agave americana, commonly known as American Aloe or Century Plant, is a very popular evergreen succulent native to Mexico and the southwestern USA.

    It forms a large rosette of rigid, sturdy, succulent leaves that can get as much as 6 feet tall individually. The blue-green leaves are edged with a row of sharp spines.

    It has earned the prestigious Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society.

    Related Article: Agave common types and varieties

    Botanical NameAgave americana
    Common NameCentury Plant, American Aloe, Maguey
    FamilyAsparagaceae
    Plant TypeSucculent
    OriginMexico, Southwestern United States
    MaintenanceLow
    Height3-6 feet
    Width6-10 feet
    LightFull sun, Partial shade
    Bloom seasonSummer
    Bloom colorYellow, Green
    Water needsLow
    SoilWell-Drained, Loamy, Sandy
    TolerantDeer, Drought, Salt
    ToxicityMildly-toxic
    Hardiness (USDA)8-11

    Agave americana Care

    Agave americana requires little care beyond regular watering during its active growth period from late winter through early summer.

    It’s easy to grow and can be used as an indoor plant or outdoor landscaping. However, it serves best as the central feature in a desert garden.

    Light

    The century plant is a sun-loving succulent that tolerates partial shade more than some other varieties of Agave.

    The best location for your century plant is in an area with full sun exposure during the day—ideally on an east-facing window sill where it will receive morning sunlight throughout most of the day.

    Shade from nearby trees is fine as long as they don’t block out all direct sunlight during much of each day. However, too much shade will cause leggy growth and prevent flowering and fruiting efforts.

    Soil

    You should select well-draining soil. The best soil for Agave americana is sandy loam, which is easy to maintain and provides the plant with plenty of nutrients.

    Be sure that your potting medium has excellent drainage so that you don’t damage the roots or root system by overwatering it.

    The soil should also be well-aerated, i.e., loose and porous, which helps prevent diseases from developing in your Agave americana’s roots.

    Water

    Water your Agave in the morning when it’s not too hot. If you water deeply and ensure the water drains out quickly, your plant should last several days without needing more water.

    Agaves are well-adapted to dry conditions and can withstand seasonal drought; however, they require occasional irrigation to keep their leaves healthy and vibrant.

    Temperature and Humidity

    The Century Plant thrives in temperatures from 55 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit and is extremely drought tolerant. It does well with lower humidity but can also tolerate as much as 60% humidity if your climate has this amount of moisture.

    Fertilizer

    Using a slow-release balanced fertilizer, it would be best if you only fertilized your Agave once or twice during the summer months.

    Agave Americana Cheat Sheet
    Agave americana cheat sheet (author viktor2013 via depositphotos)

    Pruning

    Pruning allows you to exert some control over the size of the plant, remove dead or damaged leaves, and maintain its shape.

    You should have a pair of good loppers (sharp hand tools used for cutting branches) when pruning agave plants because these plants have a hard outer coating that makes them difficult to cut with scissors or nail clippers.

    Potting and Repotting Agave americana

    You can grow your Agave americana in a container or on the ground. The most important step when growing Agave americana is to choose the right location and care for it properly.

    Spring is the optimal time for repotting.

    Prepare

    • Prepare the potting soil. The soil should be well-draining, light, and have the right amount of nutrients.
    • Prepare the potting container. Choose a pot big enough to accommodate the plant’s roots, with drainage holes at the bottom.
    • Select the perfect spot. Sunny and warm is best.
    • Gather the tools you need: trowel, spade, loppers or pruner, and shears or scissors.

    How to Repot (Step-by-Step)

    1. Remove the plant from its original container and set it aside. Use garden shears to cut away any dead roots and fill in around them with fresh soil before putting them into their new home.
    2. Place your Agave into its new pot and fill in around its roots with more fresh soil until they’re completely covered but not too tightly packed together.
    3. Water the plant thoroughly to help settle it into its new home, and then stand back and admire your work!

    Propagating Agave americana via Offsets (step-by-step)

    Propagating Agave americana via offsets is a great way to increase your number of plants. It’s not difficult to do, but you must be patient and wait for offsets to appear as the plant matures.

    1. Remove the selected offset from the parent plant with a sharp knife or shears.
    2. Allow the freshly cut offsets to dry and callus over.
    3. Plant the dry fully healed offsets in a pot filled with fresh soil.
    4. Keep the plant well-watered and allow it to grow for several months until you see the new growths appear.

    You can also propagate this Agave from seeds, but the process is much slower with fewer chances of success.

    Agave Americana Variegata
    Agave americana variegata (author ruvo233 via depositphotos)

    Blooms

    An Agave americana plant blooms appear after 20-25 years, well after a plant has matured. However, it was once believed that this Agave blooms after a hundred years, hence the name Century Plant.

    Additionally, Agave americana is monocarpic, which means the plant dies after it blooms.

    The green and yellow flowers are large and appear on a tall stalk that rises from the center of the rosette.

    Offsets also appear beneath the main rosette after it blooms; these baby plants can be removed from their mother plant and used to continue the culture.

    Related: Agave Attenuata ‘Nova’ (Boutin Blue): Growing and Care Guide

    Toxicity

    Agave americana is mildly toxic to cats, dogs, and humans. Its sap can irritate the skin if it comes into contact.

    NOTE: This page is not intended as a substitute for veterinary advice. The toxicity of an ingested substance varies depending on the amount ingested, the animal’s weight, and its sensitivity to specific allergens. Contact your veterinarian or local animal poison control center immediately if you think your pet may have ingested a toxic substance.

    Common Pests

    • Agave snout weevil: The small, black-and-white snout weevil is a common pest of agave plants. It can be spotted by its long snout and large body size. As larvae, these insects will burrow into the center of the plant’s rosette leaves and feed on the nutrients within. To control this pest, remove any affected leaves from your Agave and eliminate any weevils by hand.
    • Scale insects: These sap-feeding insects appear as dried brown spots on plant surfaces or in clusters around stems. Remove them by spraying neem oil.
    • Slugs and snails damage the leaves and eat them. Introduce nematodes to prevent spread and deal with the problem.

    AVOID

    • Overwatering
    • Placing under harsh sunlight
    • Using poorly drained potting mediums
    • Fertilizing during dormancy

    Common Problems

    Overwatering

    Overwatering can cause root rot, leading to your Agave’s death. If you see that the plant is losing its leaves and has brown spots on them, then it’s likely that it has been overwatered. The leaves will droop below the soil level and become soft and mushy.

    Remove the affected roots and repot to treat the damage.

    Sunburn

    Sunburn happens when agaves are exposed to direct sunlight for too long without shade. Agave americana has a better tolerance for extreme heat than some other succulents, but it can still get sunburnt.

    Move your Agave to a shadier location if this happens.

    Frost Burn

    Frost burn occurs when temperatures get too low at night, causing the leaves to freeze from the inside out. 

    Agave americana is frost hardy to below freezing temperatures if kept dry. Wet soil is the primary cause of frost burn.

    Growing Agave Americana (Century Plant): Easy Tips (Video)

    FAQ

    Agave americana is mildly toxic to humans or animals. It contains saponins which can irritate the skin and intestinal tract, but this isn’t usually a problem unless you ingest large amounts of raw Agave.

    No. Blue Agave is a different species of Agave (Agave tequilana). It is used to make tequila and mezcal, not as a landscape plant.

    Agave americana can get quite large. It can reach 6 feet tall when fully mature, with a 15-foot-tall flowering stalk during the blooming season.

    1. Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants. ASPCA
    2. Royal Horticultural Society. RHS
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    Milo Mason

    Milo Mason is a self-proclaimed plant whisperer. With a passion for gardening, houseplants, and all things outdoors, Milo has been cultivating indoor plants for the past five years with an interest in perennials and succulents. He enjoys sharing his insights and research on plant species when it comes to care tips.

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