False Aloe Agave virginica
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Agave lata
- Agave tigrina
- Allibertia intermedia
- Manfreda tigrina
- Manfreda virginica
- Manfreda virginica var. tigrina
- Polianthes lata
- Polianthes virginica
- Phonetic Spelling
- ah-GAH-vay vir-JIN-i-ka
- Description
-
American agave is a rhizomatous herbaceous perennial, native but rare to North Carolina, that grows in all of the southern states, west to Texas and as far north as Illinois, as well as northeastern Mexico. It was formerly known as Manfreda virginica, the genus name Manfreda coming from the 14th century Italian writer of medicinal plants, Manfredus.
The American Agave is easily grown in average well-drained garden soil in full sun to part shade, but can handle drought situations and thrives in xeric (dry) landscapes. The leaves of the American Agave appear in spring forming an attractive basal rosette and are reminiscent of aloe with their dark green, soft, succulent leaves, hence its common name American Aloe. The inflorescence is unusual with the stamen protruding from the yellow-green tubular flowers, loosely arranged at the top of the stalk. The sweet, fruity fragrant flowers last from summer into fall. Unlike true agaves, the American Agave can bloom multiple times during its lifespan. The American Agave is only cross-pollinated by Sphinx moths, Noctuid moths, and bumblebees.
Diseases, Insects, and Other Plant Problems:
American Agave has no significant insect or disease problems; however, the larvae of the sphinx moth, which is the primary pollinator, is the tomato or tobacco horn worm caterpillar.
VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Houseplants, Succulents, and Cacti", a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Mexican Single'
Six foot tall hybrid with large greenish-white flowers and thin, spotted leaves.
- 'Mexican Single'
- 'Mexican Single'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Mexican Single'
Six foot tall hybrid with large greenish-white flowers and thin, spotted leaves.
- 'Mexican Single'
- 'Mexican Single'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Agave
- Species:
- virginica
- Family:
- Asparagaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- United States
- Distribution:
- Southeastern United States, Illinois southwest to Texas, and North Eastern Mexico. Somewhat rare in North Carolina, currently found in a dozen counties in the Piedmont, two in the Mountains, and one in the Coastal Plain.
- Wildlife Value:
- The flowers are cross-pollinated by Sphinx moths and Noctuid moths at night and, although less effective, by bumblebees during the day.
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- drought
- Dimensions:
- Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
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-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Succulent
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Prostrate
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- Very Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- After the bloom period, flowers are replaced by a 1/2 inch capsule-like fruit. The oval shaped 3-celled seed capsules contain 2 rows of flattened seed. The mature seeds are half-orbicular in shape and are blown about by the wind. Fresh seed pods are green and ripen to brown.
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-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Solitary
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Long Bloom Season
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 2-3 rays/petals
- Bracts
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Up to 30 pale yellow-green 3-petaled flowers sit at the end of a solitary 4 to 5 foot flower stalk rising from the basal rosette. The flowers have a sweet fruity fragrance. At the base of each flower is a membranous leafy bract. The flowers are sessile (sit directly on the stem). The long summer bloom can extend into fall. Unlike true Agaves (Agave spp.), the American Agave can bloom multiple times during its lifespan.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Fleshy
- Soft
- Waxy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Rosulate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Oblanceolate
- Oblong
- Leaf Margin:
- Denticulate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The dark green basal rosette consists of thick, fleshy sword shaped ascending leaves that can be 6 to 20 inches long and 1 inch wide. The leaves are stiff and succulent and may have red for purple flecks. The edges of the leaves may curl up on the edges.
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-
Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Rock Wall
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Garden for the Blind
- Native Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Hummingbirds
- Moths
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Heat
- Humidity
- Insect Pests
