FLOWER GARDEN

Type: Perennial flowers

Species: 5

Height: 20 - 60

Growing: North America, South America

Kingdom: Plantae

Unranked: Angiosperms, Monocots

Order: Asparagales

Family: Agaceae

Genus: Agave

AGAVE. With its large, succulent, shiny leaves, and big trusses of greenish-yellow funnel-shaped flowers, borne on tall spikes, this plant is frequently grown in large pots or tubs. It blooms but rarely, and grows slowly. It needs little attention, and is able to withstand a great amount of drought and hot sun. The best known species is Americana, the American aloe, which attains an imposing size, and is grown out of doors.

Two varieties often grown are picta and variegata, both with variegated leaves. Other good sorts are filamentosa and Sartori. A suitable compost is composed of three parts loam, one part leaf-mould, and one part decayed hotbed manure, with sand. To propagate the plant, pot up the small suckers which form at the base, and grow them on. During hot weather the agave needs copious supplies of water. Pron. A-gay’-vi.

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