Care of the succulent plant Agave deserti or Desert Century Plant |
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The Agave genus, family Asparagaceae, includes about 350 species of succulent plants native to Mexico, the Southwestern United States, and Central America. Some species are: Agave deserti, Agave chiapensis, Agave impressa, Agave striata, Agave guadalajarana, Agave ferdinandi-regis, Agave datylio, Agave horrida, Agave vilmoriniana, Agave angustifolia, Agave univittata, Agave lechuguilla, Agave stricta, Agave sisalana, Agave shawii, Agave potatorum, Agave parryi, Agave parrasana, Agave macroacantha, Agave filifera, Agave bracteosa, Agave attenuata, Agave americana, Agave victoria-reginae, Agave ferox. Common names: Century Plant, Desert Agave, Desert Century Plant. This species is native to northern Baja California (Mexico) and southern California (USA). Agave deserti is a very slow-growing succulent plant with no stem or a short stem that reaches 70 cm (27.55") in height; it usually produces shoots. The leaves, arranged in a rosette, are lanceolate, greyish green or blue-green in colour and have black spines on the margins. They take up to 20 years to flower. The yellow flowers appear in long inflorescences up to 4 meters (13.12 feet) high. Desert Agave is an easy-to-grow plant that is used in rockeries, on dry and sunny slopes, in cactus and succulent gardens and in pots for patios and terraces. Agave deserti prefers full sun exposure but also grows in light shade. It has good resistance to intense heat and frost down to -12 ºC (10 ºF). Desert Century Plant grows in any soil that has excellent drainage, whether sandy, rocky or stony. The pot is transplanted in spring. Water moderately, waiting for the substrate to dry completely. In winter, water every 60 days. It is very resistant to drought. Fertilize in mid-spring with a mineral fertilizer for cacti and succulent plants. Century Plant does not need pruning. Desert Agave is a plant resistant to the usual pests and diseases but sensitive to excess humidity. Desert Century Plant is propagated from seeds sown in spring and by separating shoots in summer or spring. |
Images of the succulent plant Agave deserti or Desert Century Plant |
 Agave deserti var. simplex  Agave deserti var. simplex |