Agave Plants Year-Round in the Garden

In short: Several agave species can stay in the garden all year. Agave parryi tolerates about -20 °C and Agave neomexicana down to -26 °C. The key is dryness in winter: plant them on a south-facing slope or rockery with drainage at least 60 cm deep and protect the crown from rain.

Agave (lat. agave) is a genus of succulent plants from the asparagus family (lat. Asparagaceae). However, there is a widespread myth among people that agaves are cacti - they are not. The only thing they have in common with cacti is that they can store water in their bodies and manage it during periods of prolonged drought. What is less known about agave is its close relationship with lilies. Agave originates primarily from Mexico, with some species also growing in the south and west of the USA and in other Central and South American countries. Currently, however, they are cultivated almost worldwide, and you can find them planted outdoors, for example, in the Mediterranean. Almost all agaves have a large rosette of fleshy leaves bordered by spiny edges and ending in a thorn. The agave stem is very short, so the leaves grow almost from the ground. The fleshy leaves can retain water, which the plant lives on during drought. Agaves only flower once in their lifetime, after which the plants die.

Agaves prepare for flowering their entire lives, and once they are strong enough, they send up a tall stalk (scape) with flowers from the center of the plant. After pollination, the flowers develop into fruits - capsules. Before the flowered agave dies, it sends out several offsets (young plants) from its stem, which continue to grow. Therefore, you don't need to worry that you will lose your agave after flowering. There are many species of agave, some of which are accustomed to very low temperatures in their homeland, so by following certain rules, they can be grown year-round in gardens even in our climate conditions.

Commonly Cultivated Agave Species

• Agave parryi is a very frost-resistant representative, wintering in its homeland even at temperatures dropping to -20 °C. Agave parryi grows in Arizona, Texas, and northern Mexico. This agave species forms a compact, hemispherical rosette of leaves reaching a diameter of up to about one meter. Individual leaves are 25 - 50 cm long and approximately 10 - 12 cm wide. The spines on the leaf edges are longest at the center of the leaf, where they can be up to 1 cm long. The spine at the leaf tip can be up to 3 cm long. Initially, it has a dark brown color, gradually graying with age. The flower stalk can be 4 - 6 meters tall, covered with downward-curved bracts. The flowers are bright yellow, about 5 - 7 cm long. Cultivation of this agave species is common and not very demanding. In winter, it needs dryness, so plant it in very well-draining soil. In summer, it appreciates a position in full sun. Well-drained south and southeast-facing garden slopes are suitable locations for cultivation.

• Agave neomexicana (mexicana) is another frost-hardy agave. It originates from Texas and New Mexico, where it has been found at altitudes above 2000 m. Here it is very often covered by a layer of snow, which makes it more tolerant to winter moisture than other agave species. However, it is safer to keep it as dry as possible during winter. Agave neomexicana forms a beautiful silvery-grey rosette of leaves that can grow up to 70 cm in diameter. Agave neomexicana is stated to have frost hardiness down to -26 °C. Seeds of this agave species germinate very well, with a success rate of up to 90%. In the garden, it will thrive in full sun, in well-drained soil, preferably on the south or southeast side.

• Agave bracteosa is not as tolerant to frosty conditions, withstanding temperatures down to approximately -8 °C, so it is not suitable for year-round outdoor cultivation. You will need to move this agave species to winter quarters before the arrival of stronger frosts. For container growing, Agave bracteosa is an excellent choice, as it grows slowly and remains small for a long time, making it easy to move to winter quarters. This agave species also grows in a rosette form, the leaves are medium green, toothless, and taper towards the tip. The flowers are white, and the flower spike can be up to 1.8 m tall. Unlike most agaves, this one does not die after flowering, so you can enjoy it for a long time. The plant loves full sun, so give it as much as possible during summer.

• Agave garcia-mendosae comes from central Mexico from the state of San Luis Potosi. The rosettes grow to 50-60 cm in diameter. The leaves are dark green, some varieties may have white-edged margins. The leaf edges are serrated, ending in a spine. Agave garcia-mendosae flowers only once and concludes its life with a spike of white flowers. It is not frost-hardy, do not expose it to temperatures below zero. This agave thrives in a sunny or partially shaded location in well-drained soil.

Growing Agave

The easiest way to acquire your first agave is to grow your own plant from seeds. Sow the seeds preferably in spring on the surface of sandy substrate, which should be kept constantly moist. Before sowing, it's advisable to sterilize the substrate with heat (e.g., bake it in the oven) to destroy bacteria and mold spores that could kill young agaves. Maintain adequate moisture and warmth in the sowing container. Using a mini greenhouse has proven effective. After the seeds germinate, slowly ventilate the sowing device and acclimatize the plants to normal room humidity, but don't let the substrate dry out completely - young plants aren't yet fully prepared for extreme drought. Once the plants become crowded in the dish (mini greenhouse), transplant them into individual pots with very permeable soil. Grow them in a sunny location; in summer, it's best to place the plants outdoors. Agaves aren't demanding when it comes to watering and can manage with little water. However, several times during the growing season, give them a thorough watering so they can replenish water in their leaves for surviving drought periods. Fertilizing isn't necessary, but if you want to support plant growth, fertilize them several times per season with cactus and succulent fertilizer. Transfer non-frost-resistant species to their winter location in time. The temperature at the wintering site doesn't need to be high; it depends on the specific agave species. At temperatures ranging from 5 - 15 °C, all species should overwinter without problems. During winter, don't water or fertilize agaves (during cold overwintering). Agaves in a cool room can tolerate very little light. If you cannot provide cold overwintering for your agave, at least place it in the coolest room in your home and you can water it lightly 2 - 3 times during winter.

The agave plant can transform frizzy hair into beautifully smooth and radiant...

Growing Cold-Hardy Agave

Many agave species are very cold-hardy and can therefore be grown year-round in the garden. To ensure successful winter survival, several basic rules must be followed. While agaves tolerate winter very well, they usually don't forgive waterlogged substrate during the winter period. For successful overwintering, agaves must be well dried out and protected from water ingress (drainage). It's good to plant agaves in a location that is sheltered from cold winds from the north. Plant agaves on the south side, preferably on a gentle slope or in a rockery (this ensures drainage of excess water). Even so, the site must be prepared before planting. Create thorough drainage to a depth of at least 60 cm, and mound the plant with very permeable soil (a mixture of coarse sand, gravel, crushed stone with a bit of garden soil and peat). Plant outdoors in spring so that agaves have time to root well before winter. Before winter, it's advisable to mulch especially young plants with straw or fleece. Stretch over the crown a protective winter plant film, which is now commonly available. Plants are also susceptible to water running into the crown during winter, so if you don't cover it with special film, build at least some shelter over the agave. If you're overwintering agaves only under a shelter and severe frost threatens, throw an old blanket or burlap sack over it during this time. However, don't leave non-breathable fabric on the agave for long periods to prevent water condensation and mold formation. The most critical period is the first 2-3 years of overwintering; if the plant survives these, there's a good chance it will get through subsequent winters without problems.

Don't forget!

Cold-hardy agaves will survive severe frosts, but won't forgive winter waterlogging and freezing winds!

Tequila and Sisal

Many people associate agave primarily with the terms tequila and sisal.

• Tequila is a strong distilled alcoholic beverage produced from Mexican Agave tequilana, also known as Weber's blue agave. According to Mexican law, genuine tequila can only be produced in five regions. Tequila is produced primarily in the Mexican state of Jalisco, approximately 50 km from Guadalajara. Tequila contains 38-40% alcohol.

• Sisal is a textile fibre obtained from the leaves of the sisal agave (lat. Agave sisalana). One leaf of this agave contains an average of 1000 technical fibres, each 60-120 cm long. The fibres are yellow to reddish-brown in colour, highly hygroscopic, highly durable and moisture-resistant, hard to the touch, and easy to dye. The coarsest fibres are used for paper production, medium fibres are used to make ropes and cords, and the finest fibres are woven into carpets.

Agave can be used in cosmetics as a hair smoothing product or you can even make agave syrup...