Care of the succulent plant Furcraea bedinghausii or False agave |
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The genus Furcraea, family Agavaceae, includes about 20 species of succulent plants, mostly native to Mexico and the Caribbean. Some species are: Furcraea bedinghausii, Furcraea selloa, Furcraea tuberosa, Furcraea andina, Furcraea cabuya. Common names: Colombian fique, False agave. This species is native to southern México. They are succulent plants that form attractive rosettes of leaves that reach 2 meters (6.56 feet) in height. The long leaves with slightly toothed margins are bluish-green; they are erect at first and bend downward over time. The flowers are greenish white and appear in a long pyramidal inflorescence that reaches 5 meters (16.4 feet) in height. They bloom once every 10-20 years and the mother plant dies but first produces bulbils to propagate itself. They are used in rockeries, on dry and sunny slopes, to form barriers and as isolated specimens. They are ideal for Mediterranean climate gardens. Furcraea bedinghausii grows in full sun and partial shade exposures. They resist frost down to -5 ºC (23 ºF) if the substrate is dry. The soil can be normal, well-drained garden soil with plenty of coarse sand or gravel. They are very resistant to drought plants that need occasional watering in spring and summer; reduce watering in fall and no watering in winter. They do not need fertilizer. They are plants resistant to the usual pests and diseases but very sensitive to excess moisture in the roots. They are propagated from adventitious bulbils that emerge between flowers and from seeds sown in spring. |
Images of the succulent plant Furcraea bedinghausii or False agave |
 Furcraea bedinghausii  Furcraea bedinghausii |