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Agave desmetiana 'El Mirador's Gold'
| Family Name: | Asparagaceae |
| Common Name: | Smooth Agave, Smooth Century Plant |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Monocotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Succulent Plant |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Plant Shape | Rounded |
| Maximum Height | 1 m |
| Maximum Plant Spread / Crown Width | 1.6 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Unknown origin but possibly from the Caribbean |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Desert / Arid |
| Local Conservation Status | Non-native (Horticultural / Cultivated Only) |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | Rosette of narrow, linear leaves. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Thick, fleshy leaves are linear to lanceolate. They are green to bluish green in the middle with a wide, yellow margin on both sides of the leaf. The width of the yellow margin on one side is about 1/5 to 1/4 of the leaf width. The leaves are glabrous (hairless) with a waxy bloom. Leaves are spineless along the leaf margin, but the tip ends in a sharp, reddish brown prickle. |
| Flowers | Yellow flowers are borne on a very tall, spike-like inflorescence (up to 3-4 m tall). |
| Similar | This cultivar is similar to Agave desmettiana 'Variegata', but the yellow leaf margin is much wider. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Foliage |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | Container Planting |
| Thematic Landscaping | Rockery / Desert Garden |
| Usage Hazard - Cons | Spines/Thorns - Leaf |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Little Water |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Drought Tolerant, Well-Drained Soils |
| Propagation Method | Sucker |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green, Yellow / Golden |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Smooth, Powdery / Waxy Bloom |
| Young Flush Texture(s) | Smooth |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Rosulate / Rosette |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Sessile |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Lanceolate, Linear) |
| Foliar Venation | Parallel |
| Foliar Margin | Entire |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Acuminate |
| Foliar Base | Truncate / Square |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 31542 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 5941 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |
