Plant of the Month – August
0Thorncrest Agave
Agave univittata (A. heteracantha, A. lophantha)
- Plant Form: Succulent
- Water Use: Very low, low
- Mature Size: 1.5 ft. tall x 2 ft. wide
- Exposure: Full sun, part sun
- Bloom Time: Summer (Aug), Fall (Sept-Oct)
- Native to: Southern Texas, Mexico
- Hardiness: Cold hardy to 0-10°F
When you find a plant that can take intense heat, extreme cold, full sun, very little water, and no maintenance, you have a winner. Thorncrest Agave is one of those plants. It looks great almost anywhere it is tucked into the landscape, either as an accent or focal point, in rock or cactus gardens or even in containers.
Thorncrest Agave is an attractive, small, rosette-forming succulent. Its dark green leaves have a pale green mid-stripe, and their edges are lined with sharp teeth. Several cultivars are available with various shades of color-stripe patterns of white and light or dark green. Green to yellow flowers are born on the 12-foot stalk of mature plants. Known also as Thorncrest Century Plant, this slow-growing plant takes many years to bloom, but like most agaves, each plant only flowers once, and dies soon afterwards. Numerous “pups” are produced around the base, and each of those continues to grow. Propagation is easy from these offsets. Plant in full sun to moderate shade in well-drained soil, and irrigate only occasionally. This handsome species is great as an accent, focal point, container plant, or barrier plant in sunny or partially shaded sites in rock gardens, cactus gardens, and native plant gardens.
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