Century Plant features bold spikes of chartreuse cup-shaped flowers rising above the foliage in mid summer. It has bluish-green foliage edged in powder blue. The succulent sword-like leaves remain bluish-green throughout the winter.
Landscape Attributes
Century Plant is a multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with a more or less rounded form. Its strikingly bold and coarse texture can be very effective in a balanced landscape composition.
This shrub will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and usually looks its best without pruning, although it will tolerate pruning. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats.
Planting & Growing
Century Plant will grow to be about 6 feet tall at maturity extending to 15 feet tall with the flowers, with a spread of 5 feet. It tends to fill out right to the ground and therefore doesn't necessarily require facer plants in front, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 10 years.
This shrub should only be grown in full sunlight. It prefers dry to average moisture levels with very well-drained soil, and will often die in standing water. It is considered to be drought-tolerant, and thus makes an ideal choice for xeriscaping or the moisture-conserving landscape. It is not particular as to soil pH, but grows best in poor soils. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This species is native to parts of North America. It can be propagated by multiplication of the underground bulbs.
Details
Botanical Name
Agave Americana subsp proto americana
Common Name
Century Plant
Hardiness Zone
- 8b
Appearance
Max Height
15 feet
Max Spread
5 feet
Plant Form
Foliage Colour
- Bluish Green
Fall Colour
Flower Colour
- Chartreuse
Edible
Edible Component
Edible Harvest Period
Edible Use
Fruit Colour
Growing
Flowering Period
Mid Summer
Moisture
Dry to Average
Sunlight
Full Sun
Maintenance
Occasional
Deer Resistance
YES
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