Agave is a genus of monocots. The plants are perennial, but each rosette flowers once and then dies . Some species are known by the name century plant. Traditionally, it was circumscribed to be composed of about 166 species, but it is now usually understood to have about 208 species.
Agave marmorata is a beautiful, ornamental plant that’s great in landscape borders, rock gardens, succulent gardens, raised planters or xeriscape plantings. It makes an arresting plant for a large container. Leaves have teeth along their margins and a longer spine at the tip so take care to locate this plant away from foot traffic. Agave marmorata is animal resistant and will attract nectar-feeding birds when in bloom. Replant rare offshoots. Seeds and bulbils can be collected and planted after flowering. Root rot can develop in cool winters due to poor draining soils. This is an unusual, mid-sized agave with broad bluish green leaves. It is named ‘marmorata’ (marbled) for the greyish marbled areas on the leaves and leaf back, which can be brownish red on some plants. This species has a somewhat open, floppy look to the leaf rosette. Individual leaves have a sharp, brown terminal spine and handsome brown-tipped teeth on their margins. The surface of the leaf is very rough to the touch, like sandpaper. Rosettes are typically canted to one direction until the plant is mature. This species of agave is also used to make Pulque, a popular alcoholic drink in Mexico.
USDA Zone - 9
Season to Sow - Spring
