Care of the succulent plant Agave macroacantha or Black-spined agave |
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The Agave genus, a subfamily of the Agavoideae, comprises some 300 species of succulent plants native to Mexico, Central America and the Southwest of the USA. Some species are: Agave macroacantha, Agave filifera, Agave bracteosa, Agave guadalajarana, Agave attenuata, Agave americana, Agave stricta, Agave potatorum, Agave victoria-reginae, Agave striata, Agave ferox, Agave sisalana, Agave ferdinandi-regis, Agave shawii, Agave parrasana, Agave parryi, Agave angustifolia, Agave impressa, Agave vilmoriniana, Agave univittata, Agave lechuguilla, Agave datylio. Common names: Black-spined agave, Large-thorned agave. This species is native to South of Mexico. They are compact and slow growing evergreen succulent plants that reach 70 cm (2.29 feet) in height. The leaves are fleshy, grayish-green in color and have dark spines on the margin and a long black spine (3 cm/1.18") at the tip. When they bloom (they take several years and die) they produce a long flower stem up to 3 meters (9.84 feet) high. They can be used in rockeries, as isolated specimens, in cactus gardens or in large pots. Be careful with spines, especially if there are children. Agave macroacantha needs direct sun exposure and high temperatures. They can tolerate low intensity frosts. The soil should be well drained; They can be grown in poor, dry, sandy or rocky terrain. They will be watered moderately always waiting until the soil has dried; they have very good resistance to drought. In the middle of autumn, suspend irrigation. They can be fertilized once in spring with mineral fertilizer for cacti and succulents. Pruning is not necessary. They are plants that are not usually attacked by the usual pests and diseases. The easiest way to propagate them is from the shoots produced by the plant, which can be separated when the pot is transplanted. It's also possible to do it from seeds sown in spring in a seedbed. |
Images of the succulent plant Agave macroacantha or Black-spined agave |
 Agave macroacantha  Agave macroacantha  Agave macroacantha  Agave macroacantha  Agave macroacantha |