Agave Species, Candelabrum Agave, Squid Agave, Century Plant

I adore this agave. I have three banks of them started. I am always pleading for pups from all my friends at the plant swap in San Antoni...Read Moreo. I live on the top of a hill and because of being rainwater dependent for my needs, I can not irrigate and the soil is mostly always dry. This agave takes Texas style droughts, cold fronts that drop 65) in a day, cold and damp, ice storms, hurricanes, 16" of rain in a day. I do have it planted in good drainage on a slope and they don't mind my abysmal alkaline limey rubble. I lost one in a ice storm so I make sure their crowns are raised . They are relatively slow growing, But I do love what they are doing under my cedars. They have survived 13ºF here.... Maybe colder. I never ever protect them. I have too many of them to coddle , maybe 30, and I still want more.

I got mine in 2006 or so, as small plant, knowing nothing about it. I've found the hard way that it prefers partial shade over full sun,...Read More so I now keep it in my screened back porch, where it gets morning sun and late afternoon / early evening sun. It developed fungal problems from me putting it into a way-too-big plastic pot, but with only twice-monthly waterings, that has completely gone away. It has flourished... See my photo for proof. I just noticed several pups on it today for the first time; my plant is about 7 years old, I estimate. I had been wondering if it was the 'Calamar' variety, which supposedly grows solitarily, but I guess it's not. (Though the pups on mine are way out on the edge of the pot, not coming off of the main trunk, so maybe it is a 'Calamar'?) If you like the look of A. bracteosa, you might also want to get an A. gypsophila. Both to me look more like crinums or aloes than agaves, giving them a unique tropical (rather than desert-y) look and making them nice conversation pieces.

Overall summary: Hardy down to (allegedly) 10º, spine-free, elegant, tolerant of humidity... Need I say more? Truly a special agave that everyone in America should own. Hard to find in cultivation, so if you ever see one, be sure to snap it up. (I've only seen one other for sale in the 5 years since I bought mine, and I intend to go back and buy it soon. Amazingly, I almost gave mine away recently, until learning more about it and falling in love with it all over again.)

I've had my squid agave for almost a year and it has a new offshoot already. It seems to be very tolerant of the heat in Dallas, does we...Read Morell if not watered for a week at a time even in the heat. It is beautiful and not unfriendly at the tips as many agave are. I hate to think the mother plant will die when it flowers (didn't know that till I read the info). At least I will have a new offshoot. Morning sun and afternoon shade is what I have been told by Redentas Gardens and it has been doing well with that. Love this web site.

I have not grown this plant which is also known as the "octopus agave" and is native to Nuevo Leon, Mexico.
It is hardy from Zone ...Read More7b to 10. Being spineless and toothless, it is an exellent choice for growing in a container. Forming colonies by producing offsets in its native habitat, the 24 inch wide rosettes of bright-green leaves resemble a group of octopi laying amongst the rocks and boulders and hanging from cliffs. The 3 foot tall bloom spikes have numerous cream to yellow colored flowers. Being quite adaptable, it can thrive in sun or deep shade and is more moisture tolerant than most agave; but, the soil must be well drained.