Agave attenuata
| Light | Bright light to full sun in mild climates; part shade where summers are fierce |
|---|---|
| Water | Regularly in growth, allowing the top of the mix to dry; sparingly and cool in winter |
| Soil | Free-draining but not lean; a gritty mix with some organic matter |
| Temperature | Tender; best above about 5 °C, roughly USDA zones 9b–11 |
| Propagation | Offsets (pups); also seed after flowering |
| Toxicity | Among the mildest agaves and often listed as non-toxic; as with the genus, the sap may cause minor skin irritation in sensitive people, so avoid contact with eyes or broken skin |
Agave attenuata is a spineless, soft-leaved agave from central Mexico that slowly builds a short, curving trunk topped by a rosette of pale grey-green leaves. As the plant matures it sends up a long, arching flower spike that droops and curls like an animal's tail — the source of its common names foxtail agave, lion's tail and swan's neck agave. Its gentle, weapon-free foliage makes it one of the most garden-friendly members of the Agave genus, and a mainstay of mild-climate landscaping.
Description
Agave attenuata forms an open rosette of broad, tapering leaves 50–70 cm long, soft and slightly fleshy, in shades of grey-green to almost blue depending on light and variety. Unlike most agaves the leaves carry no marginal teeth and no terminal spine, so the whole plant can be handled freely — an unusual and welcome trait in the genus.
With age the rosette lifts itself on a thickening stem or trunk that may reach a metre or more, sometimes leaning and branching where offsets form. When a rosette is ready to bloom it produces a tall, densely flowered spike that arches over and hangs down in a long curl before rising again at the tip, packed with pale greenish-yellow flowers. Like other agaves each rosette is monocarpic — it flowers once and then slowly dies — but the plant lives on through the many offsets it produces around the base and trunk.
Distribution and habitat
The species is native to the highlands of central and western Mexico — recorded from Jalisco, Michoacán, Nayarit and neighbouring states — where it grows on rocky slopes and cliffs at moderate to high elevation. It has become enormously common in cultivation and is planted in warm-temperate and Mediterranean gardens around the world. It favours a frost-free climate with bright light and good drainage, conditions that echo its native rocky terrain.
Cultivation
Agave attenuata is among the easiest agaves to grow where winters are mild. Give it a bright position — full sun in cooler, coastal or overcast climates, but some afternoon shade where the summer sun is harsh, as the soft leaves can scorch. It appreciates a little more water and richer soil than the desert agaves: a free-draining mix that still holds some moisture suits it well. Water regularly through the growing season, letting the surface dry between waterings, and ease off through the cool months. See Watering and Repotting for general technique.
Its main weakness is cold. The soft, water-rich leaves mark and rot readily in frost, so in climates with hard winters it is grown in a container and moved under cover, or kept as a conservatory plant. Given room, an established clump will spread into a handsome multi-headed specimen over the years.
Propagation
The simplest method is to remove the offsets, or pups, that cluster around the base and along the trunk; potted up in a gritty mix they root quickly. Rosettes that lean and touch the ground will sometimes root where they rest. Seed is also viable after flowering but is slower and less commonly used by hobbyists, since the abundant offsets make vegetative increase so easy. See Propagation — offsets and Propagation — seed for full walkthroughs.
Cultivars
Several selected forms are grown. Variegated cultivars carry cream or yellow leaf margins or central stripes (such as the widely sold ‘Variegata’), while ‘Nova’ (also sold as ‘Boutin Blue’) is a blue-grey leaved selection rather than a variegate. Variegated plants are a little less vigorous and can be more prone to sun-scorch and cold damage, so they reward a slightly sheltered, bright spot.
Common problems
- Frost damage — the soft leaves blacken and collapse after a freeze; protect or shelter the plant where frosts occur.
- Rot — soggy, poorly drained soil can rot the base and trunk, especially in winter.
- Sun-scorch — plants moved abruptly into intense sun, and variegated forms in particular, may bleach or brown.
- Pests — agave snout weevil, mealybugs and scale can all trouble it; watch the leaf bases and undersides.
See also
- Agave — the genus overview
- Propagation — offsets · Soil and potting mix · Watering · Repotting · Pests and diseases