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The Tucson Gardener |
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Room for Agave Some, like Agave americana and Agave weberii are impressive in size and shape while others are much smaller in stature like the uniform rosettes of, Agave parryi and the colorful leafed Agave victoriae-reginae. Specific species have smooth leaf edges while others are spike adorned yet many seem to have needle sharp leaf tips that can be quick to inflict a puncture wound to the careless gardener. Many of the Agaves are reproductive wonders as they develop offsets or suckers near the base of the plant ready to fill the void left by a dying parent. Still others, in their quest for survival, produce small plantlets at the top of the bloom stalk that can take root when they become dislodged or the flower stalk dies and falls to the ground.
Many species are native to the southwest and Mexico offering drought tolerance and little care in the garden. Imported species from Central and South America may need more moisture and protection from freezing temperatures. All may need careful tending to remove unsightly dead leaves near the base of the plant to maintain their appearance. Some people are sensitive to the sap produced by the plant and care must be taken in handling to prevent sever skin irritation. Both the larger and smaller species can fill a garden container offering a low maintenance accent to the patio. Amazingly you don't often notice the Agaves until you start looking for them. Certainly the large century plants growing in clumps are noticed as are the ones that have been recently pruned where all the lower leaves are removed making the plant look more like an overgrown pineapple than the multi leafed Agave. Sometime the smaller versions are interplanted with shrubs and grasses and get hidden until the companion plants lose their leaves or go dormant in the winter. (Check Agaves in the landscape to see how some Agaves have been used in the landscape at local retailers.)
Although most Agaves can tolerate Tucson's summer heat some nursery offerings can't take the cold snaps, freezing the Agave's succulent leaves, leaving behind a mass of shriveled leaves and dead plants. If the roots weren't damaged by the cold then there's a chance a new offshoot will appear when warm weather returns.
Although some Agaves are thorn free along their leaf edge most still have sharp points at then end of each leaf. Care must be taken in handling and in planting. You don't want to plant large, thorn tipped Agaves near heavy traffic areas where someone can get punctured by one of the needle like leaf tips. Other than Agaves being effected physically by severe drought, leaf or tip burn and possible cold damage many are susceptible to the Agave weevil damage. The mature insects feed on the parts of the plant leaving behind larvae which bore into the tender tissue making the plant at risk to bacterial infection which can kill the plant. (2008)
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