General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Cactus/Succulent
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Full Sun
Plant Height: Up to 2.5-4 feet tall
Plant Spread: Up to 6 feet, or more if a clump
Leaves: Glaucous
Evergreen
Fruit: Dehiscent
Flowers: Showy
Flower Color: Yellow
Underground structures: Rhizome
Suitable Locations: Xeriscapic
Uses: Will Naturalize
Resistances: Deer Resistant
Drought tolerant
Toxicity: Other: The juice from many species of agave can cause acute contact dermatitis that produces reddening and blistering lasting approximately one to two weeks. Itching may recur up to a year later without a visible rash. Dried parts of the plants can be handled sa
Propagation: Seeds: Can handle transplanting
Other info: Sow in shallow pots with a well draining, sterile mix; 50/50 organic/inorganic of coarse perlite, pumice; sphagnum peat or good compost. Avoid manures. Irrigate from below by submerging in water to 1/2 height of pot. Provide bright, indirect light and a
Propagation: Other methods: Cuttings: Stem
Offsets
Other: Bulbils
Containers: Needs excellent drainage in pots
Miscellaneous: With thorns/spines/prickles/teeth
Monocarpic

Image
Common names
  • Maguey de Ixtle
  • Maguey de la Casa
  • Century Plant
  • Gray Agave

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Location: San Antonio, Texas
Date: 2022-04-04
according to inaturalist
Comments:
  • Posted by Baja_Costero (Baja California - Zone 11b) on Apr 20, 2023 10:09 AM concerning plant:
    Medium to large sized glaucous agave (to 3-6 feet across) with erect, blue-gray to blue-green leaves at maturity. Marginal teeth are moderately dangerous and may leave bud imprints on the leaves. Most plants are quite prolific and will generate a number of rhizomatous offsets. Young (small) plants may look different from the adult form, somewhat chunkier and less upright. They tend to grow slower until they transition to the adult form.

    This plant has been confused with forms of Agave parryi, and the old name patonii (which refers to Agave parryi v. parryi) has been misapplied to young plants of applanata. This name is especially misapplied to the marginal variegated form Agave (Agave applanata 'Cream Spike'), a somewhat smaller plant which appears to be much more common in cultivation than the wild type.

    From higher altitudes (1800-2500m) in Puebla and Hidalgo, Mexico. Cold tolerance is said to be good (to 10°F according to Starr, though other sources differ). Gentry discusses the putative domestication and transport of this plant, presumably for the purposes of harvesting fiber. This use has led to one of the common names for this plant (maguey de ixtle) which is by no means unique to this plant, as ixtle refers to fiber produced from a wide variety of agaves, yuccas, and even terrestrial bromeliads.

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