I am getting in over my head this year on Agaves.
Almost lost this one with all the rain we had. Using Chamomile tea to stop the rot.

Another small growing one.

Yellow is much more showing now before this picture was taken.


After de-pupping. They are growing fuller nicer now.


My tags say they are the same but I don't think so.


Loved the white centers and was looking for the yellow.


And found one.

Hope to see yours.

I have to post a picture of the one you sent me (I gave the other to my Mom). I need to repot it one of these days.

Nice variety of smaller plants, Stush. The variegates are quite nice.

Agave shawii is our native species. Some pictures here to share its toothy personality. All are seed-grown garden plants.

These first two plants are siblings, to show the variation even from one parent. Top and side views:




They start from flat black seeds like this



And have colorful spines when they are going strong in a greenhouse



Finally here is an extreme example of an early offsetter. Most of them get to near full size before they start offsetting. This one started early. Again, the variability is quite high in this species. Some of them never offset.



I'm thinking I might try to separate that last clump this fall.

Here are some recent photos of some of my Agaves in the front yard after a monsoon storm:

Agave x 'Royal Spine' and Agave x murpheyi variegata (I think Engard is the cultivar name, but am not sure):


Agave guadalajarana and Agave shrevei sep. metapensis:


Agave colorata x bovicornuta and Agave havardiana:


Agave americana mediopicta alba looking better than it ever has and Agave xylonacantha the narrow/straight leaved version:


Agave nickelsiae and Agave victoriae-reginae:


Agave parryi ssp. neomexicana which has finally recovered from a bad mealybug infestation and has started growing again and Agave isthmensis:


Agave desertii dwarf form and what came to me as Agave ghiesbreghtii:


Agave atrovirens and Agave potatorum in a shady spot:


Agave titanota and Agave avellanidens:


Unknown Agave that does not like the Phoenix summer sun and a young Agave ovatifolia:


Agave asperrima ssp. zarcensis and Agave viviparra variegata with Agave salmiana var. crassispina on the right:

Sometimes things go wrong.

Not sure what exactly happened to this Agave weberi, but last Fall it got this weird rotting disease that hit it high in the core and rotted through the growth spike. It may be OK but it sure is not pretty:


A couple of other plants are showing some weird effects that people have associated with treatments with miticides using a spreader sticker - which helps the miticide spread better along the leaf surfaces and better penetrate it, but it can also do weird things to the leaves that can become fused in weird places:

That is an Agave potatorum with some bad stuff going on in the core and below an Agave lurida (in all likelihood) with a less problematic but still fused leaf situation:

My favorite Agave victoria reginae


This Agave Lophantha varigata is very prolific


Agave atenuata is also prolific. The soft leaves are people friendly.
it is also referred to as the swans neck agave for the arching flower spike.


Another soft Agave is furcraea which can grow up to 6 feet across


Then there is the monster A. americana varigata
note the yard stick in the photo.
I love the way this one twists around as it wishes.


The smallest one I have is A. applanata varigata


This Agave ninzadensis is a recent addition


Agave guiengola 'Crème Brulee' is very fragile


This A. gypsophylla 'Ivory curls' is just plain fun.


Another recent addition which did not come with a name
I think it is A. filiferia varigata


My A. desemtiana before flowering


Normaly it shoots up a tall flower spike that blooms up high.
This time it first sent up a side shoot whose blooms have turned into kekis.
Followed by the main spike which has bloomed down low.


The bees are very happy



The most common Agave on my island is A. sisalana
This one is also confused about its' bloom spike

The flower is quite different


This Mangave does not have a name.
Can anybody help?

The flowers did not pollinate even though I tried with a paint brush.
But is is making new growths


I found this Agave on the side of the road.
Does anyone have a guess as to its name?
It is about 2 feet across.


Agaves can be very addictive.
Every time I see a new one I have to get it.

Thanks for all the input of agaves. I too got to have one of every one but size does matter when you have to bring them in the house every year. Also we are having the most rain this season we ever had.
Some more of my favorites'.
Agave lopantha quadricolor;

Agave Schidigera shira ito oh no ohi, (aka: Agave filifera 'Compacta Marginata') (Queen of White Thread-leaf Agave) And they don't pup (darn it!)

Loved this plant but it quickly out grew my house. And always cut me up when I moved it.

Another one I gave away due to over growing my house.

Purchased this a long time ago and it's still the same size. Keeps almost dying and then springing back.

Got a promise of an Agave victoriae reginae variegate 'White Wings'. Sending me a small pup.
Also looking for an Agave 'Snow Glow'. A 2005 Kelly Griffin sport of a hybrid he made between Agave ocahui and Agave attenuata. They don't pup so can't get this gifted. Got to pay thru the butt.
Keep the pictures coming. Love them. and thanks

Nice pictures all!

Bob, maybe I misunderstand, but what I think you have identified as Agave sisalana most certainly is not it. I do not even think it is an Agave. A. sisalana is a massive plant with stiff leaves that almost never curl or flop. It is still used heavily in the fiber industry.

You NOID might be Agave boldinghiana or Agave x celsii nova, or possibly A. mitis. Agave boldinghiana is a Caribbean species that I think would thrive on Hawaii.

Stush I think your issue with the A. victoriae-reginae is too much moisture either from watering or humidity, could be time for a much much faster draining mix.

I have been so focused on cactus flowers this year that I have not actually taken that many pictures of my Agaves, here are a few more from the Spring:

Agave 'Emerald Envy' came as Agave obscura, but it is unclear it is that and Agave marmorata:


Agave lophantha and Agave americana variegata:


Agave funkiana and Agave cerulata ssp. nelsoni


Agave montana and Agave sisalana:

What a wonderful variety of plants and so many pictures to get lost in... I'm going to have to take my camera out when the light is better. Unfortunately most of the agaves in the public garden look like crap right now, what with the ongoing drought and all.

In the meantime here are some selections from the database... starting with a hybrid between our native shawii and the spineless attenuata here. It looks a lot more like one of the parents than the other (compare to second picture vs. photos above).



Flower pics for comparison (they are different subgenera).




Related to the mystery agaves above, here are examples of the most photogenic Agave celsii/mitis from central Mexico.



Queen Vics. First one is the offsetting compact form, the rest are larger solitary plants. If you look to the lower right in the first picture you can see part of a "Snow Glow".





One of my favorites, bracteosa




Agaves with lovely Manfreda freckles in them.




Finally a bunch of flower, bud, and fruit pictures.

mcvansoest, Exactly, I know too much water kills agave and it seems A. victoriae-reginae is more prone to rot from it. This year we had record rains and so far so good. I should have keep it in the basement window this year. When and If I get the variegated ones, they will stay sheltered. Almost lost my prized A. Isthmensis 'Shoji Rajin' Variegata. Daisy's trick of using chamomile teas seems to be helping it make a come back. Just a itty bitty one leaf growing point on the pup that survived. It is starting to grow one leaf out. If it makes it, I will post best back from the dead plant.

Love all the Agave photos!

I only grow one Agave here in my garden, Agave geminifolia. I do not have space for the big Agaves, and this one is a good compromise for me growing it in a container and endures our very hot and dry summers and mild rainy winters. Adds a different texture in my succulent collection:

I like the narrow leafed agaves. Here for comparison a geminiflora in part sun with some nice colors



And now an afternoon tour of agaves in the public garden, starting with some of the more common large agaves.... these plants get zero water and do fine.




Gnarly margins and spines



Another attenuata hybrid looking cool and refined



One of several volunteers growing out from rhizomes after the mother plant died of complications from the agave snout weevil (where the orange aloe is now).



Nice little clump of parryi truncata in the late afternoon sun



This is the ongoing aftermath of a Bloodspot flowering (picture above).



Nice marginal hairs on these two



These two are clumping like crazy.



Potted and landscape Quadricolors



One of the uglier agaves on the patio



The big drought stressed Sharkskin is two generations removed from the potted plant, which is an offset of an offset.

I think I have that one whose Momma died (if you need a name; which I doubt, you're an expert with the IDs ).

My Agave Americana. And Parrasana way off to the right.

Tarev, Your agave looks like it would kill you if you fell on it. Sharp spines!
Baja, Looks like you have a few of those killer spines.
Also if de-pupped (removed) does it seem like the main plant does so much better and grows bigger?
Hamwild, I think you mean A. lophantha.

UPDATE:
Here's the old A. Victoriae Reginae. Very wet. Monday starts more rain so I will have to bring in.

Young pups from A. lophantha.

Mother plant.

Update on my new pups. Showing more yellow.

Stush, I intentionally placed the Agave on that side, since it is the lowest part of the brick fence, to serve as my prickly guard along with my other cacti there!

Stush2019 said:Tarev, Your agave looks like it would kill you if you fell on it. Sharp spines!
Baja, Looks like you have a few of those killer spines.
Also if de-pupped (removed) does it seem like the main plant does so much better and grows bigger?
Hamwild, I think you mean A. lophantha.

UPDATE:
Here's the old A. Victoriae Reginae. Very wet. Monday starts more rain so I will have to bring in.

Young pups from A. lophantha.

Mother plant.

Update on my new pups. Showing more yellow.

Stush, yep that's the one! I need to take a picture later for you and everyone of the one you gifted me. And repot it one of these days.

Speaking of, I got a update on mother plant. I think it's the best one so far that I owed it.



Nice power blue with those dark spines. Love it. And it's stays small (8").

A gift from Stush. I need to transplant it into a clay pot this week sometime.

Just won a auction on EBay on Agave-victoria-reginae-variegated-lemon-lime.
I'll show pictures later this week when plant arrives.
This one will not go outside in the rain.