Common Name(s): American Agave

Synonym(s):

Family: Asparagaceae

Native To: Arid areas of Mexico and southwestern US

Native Habitat: Well-drained sandy or gravely areas

Growth Habit: Large basal rosette with no stem

Flowering: Flower stalk of 20-40 feet with large 3-4 inch yellow green flowers

Distinguishing Characteristics:

Natural History and Cultivation Notes: Agaves can take 10 or more years before flowering, often longer in colder climates. A. americana dies after blooming, but sends out offsets or ‘pups’ to continue the species.

Ethnobotany: In Mexico and Central America agaves are often used for fencing by planting them close together in a dense hedge. The sap is used as a diuretic and a laxative. The juice of the leaves is used for bruises, or consumed for indigestion, flatulence, constipation, jaundice and dysentery. The flower stalk and plant heart are sweet and can be roasted for food. The seeds are often ground for bread flour or as a thickener for soups and gravies. Many alcohols are also obtained from different species of agaves. A. americana is used ornamentally in landscaping, especially the ‘'Variegata'’ cultivar, appealing because of the yellow margins on the leaves.

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