Tips on planting and care would be appreciated

Looks like a Century Plant (Agave) but I'm not sure which one. Like a cactus, they are very drought tolerant. http://garden.org/plants/brows...

Yep, agave. It's difficult in this case to give an exact ID since so many factors (age, sun, moisture, etc) can affect the appearance of agaves.
As for care, the main things are just make sure it's in very well-draining soil and receives plenty of sun.

Looks like blue agave, but as others said, no guarantees there, cares the same for Almost all of them, you looks lovely

Guess I should mention it will get pretty large so give it some space. Also, the tips are a bit of a danger for pets and small children; plant it away from the walking/playing area to avoid stab wounds. (I learned that the hard way. ) Some folks snip the tips for safety.

Certainly Agave Americana, Century Plant.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A...

http://ag.arizona.edu/pima/gar...

MsPalm,
The Agave plant has many uses other than as only an ornamental. Since I don't know your location and I don't know who else lives in your community, I might mention that if planted too close to the street or sidewalk, some of your neighbors may 'help themselves' to the large lower leaves of the plant as it grows. The flowers, leaves and stalk are edible. Can you imagine waiting over 30 years for a plant to bloom and waking up to find that someone has taken the blooms for their breakfast!

Not just your plant. Each year my Yucca flowers 'disappear' during the night. It's a good feeling to know that I am feeding my neighbors.

That is so funny about the neighbors. I guess it takes a long time to flower am I understanding the statement correctly. Is this the kind of plant that I have heard after it flowers it dies or is that just a tale . My neighbor has a couple not sure the exact ID of the plants but I have noticed a long stem with flowers quite pretty. Hoping to be able to witness flowering on mine but
30 years not sure if I will be around to see the flowers. Sure hope that maybe if my plant loves me and the spot it is planted in it will prove to be amazing. I think it maybe a Blue Algave if my spelling is correct.
Sure is great to have such knowledgeable people on this site sure helps someone like me.
Thanks you for sharing your knowledge and I hear a love of plants in your descriptions
Thanks again
MsPalm ( Linda )
Location Central Florida

Yes Mom will die,but produce many pups first. Also...when you cut the leaves be careful...the "sap" fluid released can be VERY irritating to your skin.

gingin said:Also...when you cut the leaves be careful...the "sap" fluid released can be VERY irritating to your skin.

All this time messing with them and I never knew!
I've learned to dodge sap from so many of my plants... Elephant ear especially, and aroid really... Any euphorbia or plant with white latex..
Don't even touch Devils claw plant!
Yuck it's like fly paper that smells like old spit or something.... Never touch castor bean juice, just in case.... Not to mention the natives and invasive species... Poison ivy and most especially poison hemlock... Learned all those the hard way... More than a few times!
Thank god the giant hogweeds not here yet...
I've had agave for years... I guess I've never really gotten into the sap....good to know! Thanks

Btw, I think the main uses of agave are making tequila and mescal, as well as sisal rope, but I know it has many more uses.
The natives really had used for them a lot... Neat stuff!
Needles, fish hooks, fiber... On and on... A sisal rope bridge stood for nearly 500 years by some accounts, I forget the massive length it spanned.... I think it feel in the 1800's
I'm fuzzy on those facts... Please verify them before you quote me!

I supposedly own a form of A. Americana that can reach 12-15 feet, unlikely I'll even see that size here...

I love these plants!