Not all agaves are created equal

[tank]

After growing Agaves here in the Southeast, several do pretty well, a few are awsome and some are downright troublesome.

The easiest so far is Agave ovatifolia. Handles the humidity, cold and weevils well. Has grown true to form and has a great grey/white color. Rarely pups.

The worst is what I think is Agave lopantha, still not exactly sure what it is. Thing is indestructable, hyper armed, and pups prolifically. I've had it pup over 20 ft from the mother plant. I planted three plants and now I have 30+ poping up everywhere (all developing since the fall). Seriously nasty plant. This one is getting removed.

[Kailua_Krish]

I recently got a Americana mediopicta alba. I'm hoping it will do well here because the photos of it are stunning and I'd like to use it they way they use furcraea in South Florida. There are so many agaves I want but they seem to be so expensive!

[Shirleypalmpaws]

Tank, thanks for starting this thread. Do you happen to have photos of the Agaves you are talking about? Hoping everyone will post their photos and knowledge

My husband, Michael, got bitten by 'plants-that-bite' and because they're beautiful I got bitten, too. Both of us are extremely the opposite of experts, but decided to create a small Agave garden for the ones we guess will stay on the smaller side (under 48" tall). Here's a very recent photo of one area we planted, kind of a barrier to be very honest....in hopes to keep neighborhood dogs from doing number one on our palms....this is where they did it but not anymore:

We'll be adding a couple more that we know will stay small, but haven't planted yet. And now that I've read your post, I'm so glad to have held off anymore planting. Michael has two more agaves planted toward the backyard area, that were tagged "Blue Agave" <--we think they're the Agave americana (prob'ly spelled that not too correctly), and a couple more NOID still in pots. Actually, quite a few of our agaves were pretty much tagged as 'house plant' or just as generic "Agave" as found at the BX. The ones we think will get big are planted in areas that will allow larger growth.

We know to make the soil super duper quick, and we've done that, but other than that.....well....just hoping to nip problems before they nip us. Neither of us has any problem starting over and redoing. Amateurs united --not saying that proudly but just saying.

[tank]

Krishna,

A. americana "medio picta" is a beautiful plant. I have a couple. Weevils really like them . Also try A. angustifolia "marginata". Its a medium sized agave hardy to about 25F. Grows quickly, relishes the humidity and is easy to cover (like most agaves).

[Kailua_Krish]

Jason,

This may be a stupid question but what are Agave weevils? I'm fairly new to Agaves so I have no idea. Agustifolia is too cold sensitive since I'm not often home when it freezes, I'd love to get an ovatifolia and weberi 'arizona star' though!

[tank]

Agave weevils, or possibly a similar species that does the same sort of damage, burrow into an agave or yucca and lay their eggs in the soft tissue of the undeveloped leaves. The larva hatch and munch their way to the apical meristem, usually killing the agave or yucca. Similar to the damage palm weevils cause. Some agaves seem to be less appealing to the weevils, but I have had them attack all of the species that I have grown. They especially seem to like A. weberii. The only thing that I have found that takes care of the problem is an "inoculation" with a systemic insecticide. I REALLY don't like using systemics, but it seems to be the only thing that works. I've been removing the flowers on my yuccas before they open up to prevent any bees or other pollinators from getting pollen from the inoculated plants. Supposedly there is a link between systemics and hive collapse.

Angustifolia should be good for you on most years. It is a fast grower and readily (although not aggressively) produces offsets. If the plant gets damage, it will usually grow out of it. If you get down to 20F though, the plant will be toast. I would compare it to A. desmettiana, which nursery folks grow down your way.

Edited April 1, 2013 by tank

[tank]

You can get ovatafolia through plant delights online, but it is expensive $15 for a 4" pot plus shipping. Ive tried to get liners from a couple sources but this agave seems to be getting really popular and sells out quickly. I'm probably going to get some seed from rare palm seeds although I'll be hitting middle age before they start to get big.

[tank]

Threepointtwowhites,

Your landscaping looks great. You can grow more varieties of agaves than I can up here in N. Florida. Check out plant delights nursery's website for some species and varieties that will do well for you, although they generally focus on cold hardy plants.

Two species that I wish I could grow in the ground up here are

A. guiengola

and

A. titanota (silver or bluish form, I've heard one variety called "Ruth Bancroft")

I tried both up here and looked great right up until the first serious freeze. Both melted under the frost cloth. I had multiples of the guiengola in the greenhouse, but I lost all of my titanotas.

[Kailua_Krish]

Yeah, Agaves are so expensive and the shipping costs are a nightmare. I'll have to keep my eye out for that weevil then, Agaves arent common in the part of Ocala I grow in and maybe if I am careful about soil introductions they wont come here. One can hope!

[tank]

just look out for what appears to be a bullet hole in the side of the plant. It is usually easy to see if its there.

Here is a good example.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KWZANgkLQrg/TbNXwUnugVI/AAAAAAAABWw/73FF795lafU/s1600/IMG_4471.jpg

[Shirleypalmpaws]

Thanks Tank, you're gonna turn me into an agave fanatic. And thanks for the heads up on agave weevils. Horrible. I had no idea....but by coincidence, for Easter, I released a whole bunch of lady bugs and a big batch of Praying mantis ---so I wonder--- do weevils get eaten by anything? Birds, maybe? Racer snakes? What eats weevils?

[tank]

Thanks Tank, you're gonna turn me into an agave fanatic. And thanks for the heads up on agave weevils. Horrible. I had no idea....but by coincidence, for Easter, I released a whole bunch of lady bugs and a big batch of Praying mantis ---so I wonder--- do weevils get eaten by anything? Birds, maybe? Racer snakes? What eats weevils?

Predators probably include birds, wasps, spiders, lizards and skinks, etc. I think they are mostly active at night which may make them less susceptible to predation from birds and some of the others. I've actually only found one on an agave. Usually you just see the entry holes. Also, I was wrong on all my agaves getting attacked. A. victoriae-reginae has never been attacked in my landscaping. I have about 7 of these and they have never been touched.

[DoomsDave]

Tank:

I see you're going to remove some over-eager agaves.

They're edible. You can roast the leaves with some pork and garlic. Has a unique flavor, goes great with margaritas (also made from tequila, also made from agaves . . . )

[Shirleypalmpaws]

Thank you for all your tips and advice, Tank...and a super big hug for saying, "A. victoriae-reginae has never been attacked in my landscaping." It'll make a nice little present to hunt down for Michael...nothing attacking sounds like icing on the cake!

DoomsDave, they're edible??? That really is an awesome tidbit of info!

[tank]

Dave,

Unfortunately A. lopantha/funkiana/something or other is probably too small and fibrous to be worth the effort, definitely cant see victoria-reginae making much for a meal . Gonna try and make a Florida mezcal in my homemade still. Can I still call it mescal if its made in Florida?

Found this kinda cool. A mezcal distillery that list the species the spirit was made from.

http://www.agavespirits.com/products-el-jolgorio-mezcal.php

I've also read that they make mezcal from A. weberii and salmiana, two species that grow great in Gainesville. Makes sense because they get huge.

Edited April 3, 2013 by tank

[tank]

Here is a photo of the offending agave. I've been calling it A. lopantha or funkiana, but I'm not really sure what it is.

[John Case]

I recently got a Americana mediopicta alba. I'm hoping it will do well here because the photos of it are stunning and I'd like to use it they way they use furcraea in South Florida. There are so many agaves I want but they seem to be so expensive!

agaves are weedlike in my area. Especially the A. americana (and all of its cultivars). howver whn they flower, it is impressive to see a 30 foot flower stalk come out of a plant the size of a VW bus.....

[JasonD]

Here is a photo of the offending agave. I've been calling it A. lopantha or funkiana, but I'm not really sure what it is.

agave2.JPG

I see Agave funkiana in that plant.