Agave victoriae-reginae Moore

Queen Victoria agave

Native to a small area in Mexico, these agaves are now endangered. It is named for Queen Victoria, though I cannot figure out why.

Plants: As agaves go, these are fairly small, 1½–2′ (50–70 cm) around. They consist of a tight ball of stiff leaves with white streaks. Viewed from above, it is an attractive spiral of precisely positioned, stiff leaves.

Leaves: Roughly triangular in cross-section, 6–8″ (15–20 cm) long and 1½–2½″ (3.8–6.3 cm) wide.

Flowers: The plant produces a spike 10–15′ (3–4.6 m) high, the upper half of which contains cream-colored flowers (most agave flowers are yellow), with a touch of red/purple. After about 40 years, the plant flowers once, then, like most agaves, dies.

Fruits: ?

Habitats: In northeastern Mexico’s Sierra Madre Oriental Mountains, in calcareous soil desert or semi-desert environments. It is found on the steep slopes and near vertical cliffs of canyon walls, where it forms large colonies.

Online References:

References:

Agave victoriae-reginae description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.

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