I have two A Celsii obtained from the UCSC Arboretum. Neither has many spines and are easy to handle. They are in full sun; get baked i...Read Moren summer and soaked in winter and tolerate it. I may have two cultivars as one is 12' diameter after 3 years and the other only 5" after 5 years. No suckers yet.
My A. celsii have no spines on the edges of the leaves and a relatively soft spine at leaf tip. It is one of the "safest" agaves to work...Read More with. The do great in part shade. I grow them under the edges of Live Oaks and under Texas Persimmon. Heavy shade makes for a straggly plant. Haven't tried them in too much sun yet. Have never had any offsets (pups). When they bloom I get a few bulbils on the bloom stalks which readily grow into new plants.
Zone 9b, Coastal Otago, New Zealand.
Though I probably shouldnt complain about this beauty since our conditions are not very kind ...Read Moreto it, I must say I find it exasperating.
I have a lovely rich apple green specimen which I have pampered right from the start in a pot, rushing out at three in the morning when I suspect a frost to shivvy it under cover, protecting it from excess rain etc etc. I have bled from the eyes for the sake of this darn thing and all Ive got to show for it is a sulky damaged rosette with rot spots.
Its graceful leaves are very flimsy and will crease at the slightest provocation, which in our moist coastal conditions leads to brown rot and a ruined symmetry. It is also pock marked by hail, meaning its appearance is shot for a year while it turns over new leaves. Grrrrr! It seems to be pretty fussy about water- too little and it looks dry and wont grow, a drop too much and it rots out.
On the plus side, its lovely emerald colour, smooth waxy leaves and pure form make it highly desirable in a collection. If you have a dry, sheltered spot you probably coulnt go wrong. If you have a wet winter and risk of hail, save yourself some anguish and give it a miss.
An update- after procuring a 'regular' (non apple green variety) celsii pup and pretty much neglecting it all winter Ive just noticed that it's fine, holding plenty of leaves with no sign of rot and is a pleasing shape, unlike it's pampered cousin. Isn't that always the way- the pretty ones are high maintenance while the plain are eager to please! Darn it.
Nice blue-gray looking plant (though can be bright green)with the usual sharp spines along the leaves and a large terminal spine at the e...Read Morend of each. Eventually forms large colonies from constant, but nearby suckering. Not a common species in cultivation. From eastern Mexico.
2011 Kew Gardens is now considering celsii to be a synonym for Agave mitis var. mitis
I have two A Celsii obtained from the UCSC Arboretum. Neither has many spines and are easy to handle. They are in full sun; get baked i...Read More
My A. celsii have no spines on the edges of the leaves and a relatively soft spine at leaf tip. It is one of the "safest" agaves to work...Read More
Zone 9b, Coastal Otago, New Zealand.
Though I probably shouldnt complain about this beauty since our conditions are not very kind ...Read More
Nice blue-gray looking plant (though can be bright green)with the usual sharp spines along the leaves and a large terminal spine at the e...Read More