The Agave americana ‘Mediopicta Alba’ is a beautiful succulent that can help you create a stunning landscape in your backyard. It is also a low-maintenance plant that requires little attention and care to keep it healthy and looking its best.
Here, we’ll provide everything you need to grow this plant successfully at home.
in this article:
About Agave americana ‘Mediopicta Alba’
Agave americana ‘Mediopicta Alba’ is a hardy and adaptable plant with a tall rosette of mid-green succulent leaves with a thick, central yellow stripe.
The leaves recurve gracefully to form a sort of elegant cupping structure. And, since even an individual rosette can get quite tall at about 3-4 feet, it’s hard to look away from the spectacle of a fully grown specimen.
The sides of the leaves are lined with sharp teeth accompanied by a sharp terminal spine.
It’s easy to grow and can be used as an accent in the garden or as a specimen plant.
Agave americana ‘Mediopicta Alba’ is a cultivar of Agave americana.
It is a proud recipient of the Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society.
Related Article: Learn about different types of Agave succulents and common varieties
| Botanical Name | Agave americana ‘Mediopicta Alba’ |
| Common Name | Agave americana ‘Mediopicta Alba’ |
| Family | Asparagaceae |
| Plant Type | Succulent |
| Origin | Garden Origin |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Height | 3-4 feet |
| Width | 5-6 feet |
| Light | Full sun, Partial shade |
| Bloom season | Summer |
| Bloom color | Yellow |
| Water needs | Low |
| Soil | Well-Drained, Loamy, Sandy |
| Tolerant | Deer, Drought, Salt |
| Toxicity | Mildly-toxic |
| Hardiness (USDA) | 8-11 |
Agave americana ‘Mediopicta Alba’ Care
Agave americana ‘Mediopicta Alba’ is a succulent plant that loves the sun. It is slow growing and drought-tolerant, making it ideal for dry climates and areas with little rainfall.
This Century Plant is an excellent addition to your garden or patio because of its unique creamy variegation and interesting leaf shape. Yet, it also makes a perfect house plant if you want something easy to care for indoors!
Light
The Agave americana ‘Mediopicta Alba’ prefers full sun to partial shade. It is more tolerant of shade than some of its peers. In fact, it grows best in light shade.
It’s best to avoid direct afternoon sun. This can cause the leaves to burn and scorch on hot days.
If you’re concerned that your plant is too close to a window, try moving it away from the glass or using curtains as a buffer between them.
Soil
When it comes to soil, you want a well-draining mix. You can use any good potting mix and add in some pumice and perlite to increase the drainage factor until it’s satisfactory.
If you’re using a store-bought succulent mix, that’s great! Just ensure it has good drainage and isn’t too heavy on the peat moss.
Water
Water your Agave americana ‘Mediopicta Alba’ only when the soil is dry. Check the soil every other day and water it if it feels dry about an inch below the surface.
Do not water your plant when it’s wet, or you may encourage root rot.
The wait time between watering sessions is usually a week or so in the hotter months and about two weeks in the colder months. Check the soil before every session to determine whether or not it is a good time for watering.
Temperature and Humidity
Agave americana ‘Mediopicta Alba’ is a succulent plant that prefers temperatures between 55 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit, with humidity levels of 40 to 60 percent.
It will tolerate hotter or cooler temperatures for short periods and will likely be damaged if exposed to temperatures below 15 degrees Fahrenheit for prolonged periods.
Agave americana ‘Mediopicta Alba’ is winter hardy to USDA zones 8-11. It can withstand some cold weather in these areas. However, if you are located in zone 7 or below, ensure that your plant receives adequate protection from frost year-round.
Fertilizer
Fertilizer is a tricky subject. If you aren’t careful, you can over-fertilize your Agave americana ‘Mediopicta Alba’ and cause burn damage to the plant. Many slow-release fertilizer products won’t burn plants if used properly.
It’s important to note that agaves don’t need much fertilizer at all—just a yearly application in early spring will be enough for your plant to thrive throughout the year.
If you’re unsure about what type of fertilizer product is best for your Agave, just a regular balanced fertilizer will do!
Pruning
Pruning is necessary to make sure your Agave looks its best. Prune dead leaves that have almost fallen off the plant and those with damaged edges or split ends.
You can also prune for aesthetics, such as removing offsets growing near the base to maintain a beautiful solitary rosette.
Potting and Repotting Agave americana ‘Mediopicta Alba’
An agave plant will need to be repotted every 2-3 years. This is a relatively easy task, and it’s best done in spring when the plant is actively growing.
You should repot in early spring before growth begins or in late summer or early fall just before the season’s first frost. Avoid repotting during winter dormancy, as this can disturb roots and cause undue stress to the plant.
If you have an established agave with multiple offsets (babies) growing from its base, consider splitting off one of these into separate pots so that they may continue maturing as individuals rather than as part of a clump with their mother plant.
Repotting is the perfect excuse for propagation!
Prepare
How to Repot (Step-by-step)
- Remove the plant from its pot and dust off its old soil and dead roots with care, making sure to do as little damage as possible.
- Fill the new pot with the preselected potting medium. Don’t fill the pot up completely but leave a little bit of empty space below the rim.
- Replant your Agave americana ‘Mediopicta Alba’ into its new home by digging a hole in the potting soil to make way for the rootball.
- Wait a week for the plant to get established.
- Water lightly and resume the regular watering routine over the next few weeks gradually.
Propagating Agave americana ‘Mediopicta Alba’ Using Offsets
Agave americana ‘Mediopicta Alba’ offsets readily. You will have no trouble finding new offsets on a mature plant.
- Remove the offsets from the mother plant by making a clean cut using a sterile knife.
- Place the potted offsets in a warm, dry place until they form calluses on the wounded part. This should take two to three weeks.
- Plant the offset in a container with well-draining soil.
- Place the container where they will receive bright light but not direct sunlight and temperatures between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Water lightly once every seven days so there isn’t standing water but just enough moisture so that when squeezed between your fingers, it feels moist but not wet.
Blooms
Agave americana ‘Mediopicta Alba’ is monocarpic, meaning it blooms only once before dying. This can occur anywhere from 10 to 12 years as the plant matures. The timing of flowering is not predictable and depends on the weather, but springtime is usually a good bet for determining when your plants will bloom.
Flowers are borne on a 15-foot-tall stalk that arises from the center of the rosette. The flowers are greenish yellow and appear in clusters. They’re also quite large.
Toxicity
Agave americana ‘Mediopicta Alba’ is mildly toxic to pets and children.
If you’re growing your Agave indoors, keep it away from small children who might have an accident.
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
AVOID
- Overwatering
- Placing under harsh sunlight
- Using poorly drained potting mediums
- Fertilizing during dormancy
Common Problems
You might encounter a few recurring problems while caring for this Agave. They are:
Overwatering
Overwatering is the most common cause of death for Agave americana ‘Mediopicta Alba.’ If your plant is potted, make sure its drainage holes aren’t clogged. If they are, you can use a pencil to poke them open.
Also, avoid using poor draining soils that will retain water after a watering session. You should water once a week or less if you have well-draining soil and adequate drainage in your container.
Overwatering can lead to root rot, killing your Agave americana ‘Mediopicta Alba’ entirely if left untreated.
Sunburn
Agaves are succulent plants that require a lot of sunlight to thrive. However, they can be damaged by too much sunlight as well. For example, if your Agave is turning brown or yellow, it is sunburned; the plant has been in harsh sunlight for too long without being sufficiently watered.
If you see yellowing leaves on your Agave, immediately move it to a shadier spot and remove the affected areas.
Frost Burn
Agave americana ‘Mediopicta Alba’ is susceptible to frost burn. On average, this Agave is hardy to about 15 degrees Fahrenheit but can be damaged by a hard freeze.
In freezing temperatures, your best bet is to move the plant indoors before the first frost. However, if you don’t have space for it inside or forget about its sensitive nature, remember that wet plants are more susceptible to frost burn than dry ones.
Agave americana ‘Mediopicta Alba’- Growing Tips (Video)