Agave difformis

Agave difformis (28/02/2016, Kew Gardens, London)

Position: Full sun

Flowering period: Late spring to early summer

Soil: Moist, well drained

Eventual Height: 90cm

Eventual Spread: 120m

Hardiness:  8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 11

Family: Asparagaceae

Sub Family: Agavoideae

Agave difformis is an evergreen, rosette forming perennial shrub. Its fleshy grey/ green leaves are lanceolate with spiny margins and an acuminate tip, up to 60cm long and 6cm across. It leaves are arranged in a rosette. Its yellow/ green flowers appear on a flower spike which may be up to 5m tall. Each plant flowers once after which it dies. It produces rhizome like offsets which helps the spread of this plant. Its root system is shallow and fibrous.

Agave difformis, commonly known as Deformed Century Plant, is native to north central Mexico. In its native habitat it grows in sandy/ rocky soils in desert condition in grasslands at an elevation of 1,600m to 1,900m.

The etymological root of the binomial name Agave is derived from Greek mythology being the daughter of Cadmus, who supposedly founded the city of Thebes. Difformis is derived from the Latin difformatas meaning ‘lack of uniformity’, in reference to its leaves.

The landscape architect may find Agave difformis useful as a dramatic specimen plant. Once established this plant is drought tolerant. This plant may be growing as a houseplant providing sufficient light and room are given, it should be noted its leaf tips have sharp spines. It would be suitable for conservatory or atrium type conditions.

Ecologically, Agave difformis flowers are attractive to nectar loving birds and pollinating insects.

Agave difformis Leaf (28/02/2016, Kew Gardens, London)

Agave difformis  prefers moist, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil. It will tolerate poor soils.

When maintaining Agave difformis as a houseplant its soil should be watered sparingly. Watering should be reduced during the winter months. Its preferred active growing temperature rages from between 14ºc to 24ºc, although it will tolerate a temperature below freezing. Feeding with weak fertiliser solution should be carried out once a month during the growing season.



Landscape Architecture

Yucca queretaroensis

Yucca queretaroensis (28/02/2016, Kew Gardens, London)

Position: Full sun

Flowering period: Late summer

Soil: Dry, well drained

Eventual Height: 5m

Eventual Spread: 1.2m

Hardiness: 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11

Family: Asparagaceae

Sub Family: Agavoideae

Yucca queretaroensis is a slow growing evergreen shrub with an upright habit. Its grey/ blue leaves are square in cross section, lanceolate with entire margins, up to 60cm long, 3mm broad and appear as a symmetrical rosette. Its dead leaves remain on the trunk, are pendulous and produce a skirt like appearance. Its white flowers are bell shaped and appear as erect flowering stalks as panicles which are up to 80cm long and emerge from its leaves.

Yucca queretaroensis Leaf (28/02/2016, Kew Gardens, London)

Yucca queretaroensis, commonly known as Queretaro Yucca, is native to Central Mexico. In it native habitat this plant grows in hills and canyons in places with low vegetation cover.

The etymological root of the binomial name Yucca is derived from the Carib (indigenous people of the Caribbean) name for cassava (misapplied to this plant). Queretaroensis is named after the Mexico state of Queretaro.

The landscape architect may find Yucca queretaroensis useful as an architectural specimen shrub suitable for xeriscaping planting schemes. Once established this plant is drought tollerant. This plant may be suitable as a house plant providing adequate light is provided.

Yucca queretaroensis Base (28/02/2016, Kew Gardens, London)

Ecologically, Yucca queretaroensis flowers are attractive to pollinating insects.

Yucca queretaroensis prefers dry, fertile,very well-drained soils. It prefers an alkali pH of soil. It will not tolerate wet soils.

Yucca queretaroensis requires little maintenance. Dead leaves may be removed from the trunk to promote a tidy appearance.



Landscape Architecture

Agave weberi

Agave weberi (28/02/2016, Kew Gardens, London)

Position: Full sun to light shade

Flowering period: Late spring to early summer

Soil: Moist, well drained

Eventual Height: 2m (flower spike up to 5m)

Eventual Spread: 2.5m

Hardiness:  8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 11

Family: Asparagaceae

Sub Family: Agavoideae

Agave weberi is an evergreen, rosette forming perennial shrub. Its fleshy grey/ green leaves are ovate with usually entire margins and an acuminate tip, up to 1.2m long and 25cm across. It leaves are arranged in a rosette. Its yellow flowers appear as branched racemes on flower spike which may be up to 5m long. Each plant flowers once after which it dies. It produces rhizome like offsets which helps the spread of this plant. Its root system is shallow and fibrous.

Agave weberi, commonly known as Weber’s Agave or Maguey Iiso, is native to south Texas to north east Mexico. In its native habitat it grows in sandy soils in low scrubby vegetation.

The etymological root of the binomial name Agave is derived from Greek mythology being the daughter of Cadmus, who supposedly founded the city of Thebes. Weberi is named after Frédéric Albert Constantin Weber (1830 – 1903), a French botanist.

The landscape architect may find Agave weberi useful as a dramatic specimen plant. Once established this plant is drought tolerant. This plant may be growing as a houseplant providing sufficient light and room are given, it should be noted its leaf tips have sharp spines. It would be suitable for conservatory or atrium type conditions.

Agave weberi Leaf (28/02/2016, Kew Gardens, London)

Ecologically, Agave weberi flowers are attractive to nectar loving birds and pollinating insects.

Agave weberi prefers moist, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil. It will tolerate poor soils.

When maintaining  Agave weberi as a houseplant its soil should be watered sparingly. Watering should be reduced during the winter months. Its preferred active growing temperature rages from between 14ºc to 24ºc, although it will tolerate a temperature below freezing. Feeding with weak fertiliser solution should be carried out once a month during the growing season. The removal of dying lower leave will help to create a tidy appearance and expose its stem.



Landscape Architecture