What kind of agave is this? - Ask Extension
Anyone have a clue the variety of this agave? It's about 4 feet tall and as you see, it is throwing up a bloom (sadness!). The leaves are all smoo...
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What kind of agave is this? #367001
Asked September 30, 2016, 11:32 PM EDT
Anyone have a clue the variety of this agave? It's about 4 feet tall and as you see, it is throwing up a bloom (sadness!). The leaves are all smooth and no spine on the tips although some of the tips that have a bit of dried area can be a bit sharp although there are not actual spines or jagged areas anywhere.. I think it counts as a 'soft' type of agave. I got it about 15 years ago as a tiny 1 inch pup. THe bloom on mine is still developing , but as I recall, it will branch out and eventually produce pups on the stalk that look like tiny pineapples that will fall down onto the ground. I have never seen the blooms as the mother of this plant was already past that stage when I encountered it. It was growing apparently without assistance when I was out hiking somewhere. These things are hardy, I rarely take care of it. It sits in a boiling hot parking lot in a too small pot and grew very large, the pot is about to explode but it's so heavy now, i did not feel motivated to transplant (and it will probably die after this bloom so will not bother now). The bloom stalk grows about 6 inches a day! The color is green tones, not the grey or blue of some agaves. I have looked at a lot of photos but have not found this one, seems like most agaves have spines or scallops but this one does not.
San Diego County California
Expert Response
Thanks for your plant identification question. I don't think this is the succulent that produces 'plantlets' on its tips ("Mother of Million" plant, which is a kalanchoe). I believe this is a yucca, rather than an agave The agave typically has sharp spines on the leaf edges whereas the yucca has none. Yucca plants also have thinner, straighter, and less succulent leaves than agaves and with time produce trunks.
I can't tell how succulent these leaves are, and it sure would be helpful to see the stalk. Do you recall when it blooms?
I can't tell how succulent these leaves are, and it sure would be helpful to see the stalk. Do you recall when it blooms?