Agave americana ‘Variegata’
Century plant
This cultivated variety of Agave americana is not found in the wild.
Plants: Plants are succulents that form rosettes 4–6′ high ⨉ 6–10′ around (1.2–1.8 ⨉ 1.8–3 m).
Leaves: 3–6½′ (1–2 m) long and 6–10″ (15–25 cm) wide. They are smooth and very rigid, gray-green or bluish, with bold cream-colored white stripes and dark brown teeth along the edges. The ‘Variegata’ cultivar is so named for the white stripes.
Flowers: Yellow blooms appear on stalks 16–26′ (5–8 m) high, branched at the top into 15-35 branches.
Fruits: Small brown seeds, though they also spread via adventitious shoots.
Habitats: The natural species are desert plants, accustomed to sandy soils, full sun, and hot, dry habitats.
Online References:
4/6/2011 · Howard Peters Rawlings Conservatory & Botanic Gardens, Druid Hill Park, Baltimore, Maryland 
2/24/2010 · San Diego (Quail) Botanic Garden, Encinitas, California · ≈ 5½ × 4′ (1.7 × 1.2 m) 
4/6/2011 · Howard Peters Rawlings Conservatory & Botanic Gardens, Druid Hill Park, Baltimore, Maryland 
| Kingdom | Plantae | Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae (from Stearn's Botanical Latin) |
| Subkingdom | Tracheobionta | Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients |
| Division | Magnoliophyta | Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms |
| Class | Liliopsida | Monocots (plants with a single seed leaf); includes the lily family |
| Subclass | Liliidae | Includes lilies, orchids, and many others |
| Order | Asparagales | A diverse group that includes asparagus |
| Family | Asparagaceae | Agaves, asparagus, hyacinths, and others |
| Genus | Agave | From Greek, meaning “noble” |
| Species | americana | “Of or from America” |
Agave americana ‘Variegata’ description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.
© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.