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Agave tequilana 'Sunrise'
| Family Name: | Asparagaceae |
| Synonyms: | Agave tequilana 'Variegata', Agave tequilana 'Tequila Sunrise' |
| Common Name: | Sunrise Tequila Agave |
Sunrise Tequila Agave is a cultivar of the same species as the 'Weber Azul' cultivar used to make tequila, a Mexican alcoholic beverage. However, Sunrise Tequila Agave is used in landscaping for its ornamental, variegated leaves.
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Monocotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Herbaceous Plant, Succulent Plant |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Maximum Height | 1.2 to 1.8 |
| Maximum Plant Spread / Crown Width | 1.2 m to 1.8 m |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | Open rosette of linear leaves up to 1.8 m tall. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Narrow, linear leaves are light greyish green with light yellow bands along the edge. The leaf margin is armed with small teeth which are sharp and yellow. Leaves gradually narrow at the tip and end in a sharp, dark brown terminal spine. Stiff, erect leaves are arranged in an open rosette. |
| Flowers | Green-purple flowers with pink stamens are arranged along a branched inflorescence known as a panicle (5-6 m tall). This species only flowers once in its lifetime after about 8-9 years, and then dies. |
| Cultivation | This cultivar looks best when grown alone or well-spaced from other individuals. It grows well in full sun or light shade in well-drained soil. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Foliage, Ornamental Form |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | Parks & Gardens, Focal Plant |
| Thematic Landscaping | Rockery / Desert Garden |
| Usage Hazard - Cons | Spines/Thorns - Leaf |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Little Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Fast |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Drought Tolerant, Well-Drained Soils |
| Propagation Method | Sucker, Aerial Plantlet, Aerial Bulbil |
| Propagation Method Remarks | It is usually propagated by offsets, daughter plants that are genetically identical to the mother plant. |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Yellow / Golden, Green - Bluish Green, Silver / Grey |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Smooth, Thick |
| Foliar Modification | Spine (marginal) |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Rosulate / Rosette |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Sessile |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Linear) |
| Foliar Venation | Parallel |
| Foliar Margin | Spiny |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Acuminate |
| Foliar Base | Truncate / Square |
| Typical Foliar Area | Macrophyll ( 182.25cm2 - 1640.25 cm2 ) |
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) Remarks | Greyish Green |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Bisexual Flowers |
| Flower Colour(s) | Green, Purple |
|---|---|
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
| Flower Location | Terminal |
| Flower Symmetry | Asymmetrical |
| Individual Flower Shape | Funnelform / Funnel-shaped |
| Inflorescence Type | Umbel |
| Flower Size | 7 cm |
| Inflorescence Size | 5.5 m |
References
| References | <1> Escobar, R.E., Hernández, F.Z., Gil Vega, K.D.C. & Simpson, J. (2008). Seed production and gametophyte formation in Agave tequilana and Agave Americana. Botany 86: 1343-1353. |
|---|
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 31922 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 6324 |
| 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. |
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