Intermediate
skill rating
Online Garden Tools
Useful videos
Agave americana (Century plant)
Comment on a listing
Plant supplier links
- Login to upload a photo
2 hours care
per year
per year
1.5m
Max height
Max height
1.5m
Max spread
Max spread
10-20 years
To maturity
To maturity
Plant details
Botanical name
Agave americana
Other names
Century plant, American aloe, Mexican soap plant, Maguey, Agave gracilispina
Genus
Agave Agave
Species
A. americana - A. americana is a tender, rosette-forming, evergreen perennial with lance-shaped, spiny-edged, spiny-tipped, grey-green leaves and large, spreading panicles bearing clusters of yellow-green flowers in summer.
Agave americana is: Evergreen
Habit
Rosette
Awards
RHS AGM (Award of Garden Merit)
Flower
Green, Yellow in Summer
Foliage
Silvery-grey, Green in All seasons
How to care
Watch out for
Specific pests
Scale insects Scale insects
Diseases
Vulnerable to chlorosis resulting from magnesium deficiency.
General care
Propagation
Sow seed in 21C in spring.
Propagation methods
Offsets, Root plantlets, Seed
Sign up for your FREE ACCOUNT today or login to receive detailed monthly care instructions
Where to grow
Agave americana (Century plant) will reach a height of 1.5m and a spread of 1.5m after 10-20 years.
Suggested uses
Architectural, Conservatory, Containers, Drought Tolerant, Indoor, Low Maintenance, Mediterranean
Cultivation
Grow under glass in cactus compost, in bright, filtered light. Water moderately when in growth and feed every two or three weeks with a balanced liquid feed. Keep almost dry in the winter. Outdoors in frost-free areas, grow in moderately fertile, slightly acid, sharply drained soil in sun.
Soil type
Loamy, Sandy
Soil drainage
Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Neutral
Light
Full Sun
Aspect
South, East
Exposure
Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Indoor unheated (H2), Tender in frost (H3)
Companion plants
Botanical name
Agave americana
Other names
Century plant, American aloe, Mexican soap plant, Maguey, Agave gracilispina
Genus
Agave Agave
Species
A. americana - A. americana is a tender, rosette-forming, evergreen perennial with lance-shaped, spiny-edged, spiny-tipped, grey-green leaves and large, spreading panicles bearing clusters of yellow-green flowers in summer.
Native to
Mexico, Southwestern United States
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Rosette
Awards
RHS AGM (Award of Garden Merit)
Create your free Shoot garden
Create your free SHOOT garden and make a record of the plants in your garden.
Add your own photos, notes, get monthly email reminders on how to care for your plants, and connect with other gardeners. Get started now.
Colour
Flower
Green, Yellow in Summer
Foliage
Silvery-grey, Green in All seasons
How to care
Watch out for
Specific pests
Diseases
Vulnerable to chlorosis resulting from magnesium deficiency.
General care
Propagation
Sow seed in 21C in spring.
Propagation methods
Offsets, Root plantlets, Seed
Monthly care advice
Get access to monthly care advice
Create a free SHOOT account and get instant access to expert care advice for this and other plants in your garden.
You'll also receive handy monthly email reminders of what needs doing. Create your free account.
Where to grow
Agave americana (Century plant) will reach a height of 1.5m and a spread of 1.5m after 10-20 years.
Suggested uses
Architectural, Conservatory, Containers, Drought Tolerant, Indoor, Low Maintenance, Mediterranean
Cultivation
Grow under glass in cactus compost, in bright, filtered light. Water moderately when in growth and feed every two or three weeks with a balanced liquid feed. Keep almost dry in the winter. Outdoors in frost-free areas, grow in moderately fertile, slightly acid, sharply drained soil in sun.
Soil type
Loamy, Sandy
Soil drainage
Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Neutral
Light
Full Sun
Aspect
South, East
Exposure
Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Indoor unheated (H2), Tender in frost (H3)
USDA zones
Zone 11, Zone 10, Zone 9, Zone 8
In order to add a note on this plant, please add this plant to your plant lists.
| This plant likes... | Garden match | |
| Soil types: | Loamy, Sandy | Tell us... |
| Soil drainage: | Well-drained | Tell us... |
| Soil pH: | Acid, Neutral | Tell us... |
| Light: | Full Sun | Tell us... |
| Aspect: | South, East | Tell us... |
| Exposure: | Sheltered | Tell us... |
| Hardiness: | Indoor unheated (H2), Tender in frost (H3) | Tell us... |
COMPANION PLANTS
GARDENS WITH THIS PLANT
ARTICLES WITH THIS PLANT
By multi award winning designer Sarah Eberle, Life on Mars is an extra-terrestrial space garden that explores psychological importance of man’s relationship with the environment.… read more
The rags to riches story of 19th century emigrants who travelled abroad to make their fortune and then return home to north west Spain to build lavish mansions and gardens, will be retold in an… read more
By garden designer Stuart Charles Towner. Spirit of Cornwall - a garden inspired by the work of sculptor Barbara Hepworth with music by composer Leo Geyer commissioned by the Hepworth Estate and Tate… read more
By garden designer Sarah Eberle. Viking Cruises is delighted to be partnering with Garden Designer Sarah Eberle again this year to create a travel-inspired garden for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2017. read more
By garden designer Manoj Malde. British-Indian designer Manoj Malde is making his RHS Chelsea Flower Show debut this year bringing vibrant clashing colours in a vivid palette to his Inland Homes:… read more
Report content or feedback to Shoot
To add ? to your lists,
login to your account or subscribe.
Find out more about plant lists here
or Login
To add notes for this plant login to your account or register for a new account.
Sign up for freeor Login
To add images for this plant login to your account or register for a new account.
Sign up for freeor Login
To check if this plant is suitable for your garden first login to your account or subscribe.
or Login