How to Grow and Care for Century plant

Century plant, also known as American agave, American aloe, Flowering aloe, Sentry plant, Maguey

Century plant thrives in arid conditions and requires minimal maintenance, making it an easy-care plant. It's vital to provide a well-draining soil mix and situate the plant in full sunlight to mimic its native desert habitat. Overwatering is a common pitfall, thus water sparingly and allow the soil to dry out completely between waterings. Its sharp spines necessitate careful handling during transplantation or pruning.

Watering schedule: Every 3 weeks

Sunlight Requirements: Full sun

In This Article

Planting and Growing Century plant

Toughness	Medium
Care Level	Low
Care Difficulty	Easy
Lifespan	Perennial
Watering Schedule	Every 3 weeks
Sunlight Requirements	Full sun
Soil pH	6-7.5
Planting Time	Spring, Fall
Hardiness Zones	9-12

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Varieties of Century plant

Century plant 'Mediopicta Alba'

Century plant 'Mediopicta Alba' is a cultivar of the Century plant (Agave americana). This cultivar was selected to be significantly shorter than the parent, as well as for its variegated leaves. These leaves feature a white central stripe, after which the cultivar was named—"mediopicta" means "with a colored stripe down the center-line" and "albus" means "white."

Variegated American Aloe

A cultivar of agave, variegated American Aloe is unique for its yellow trim and is better-suited for containers than is its parent plant. This plant thrives in areas from gravel gardens to courtyards, but it is best suited to warm, dry climates. It will not tolerate low winter temperatures and may need to be brought inside on cold nights.

Century plant 'Mediopicta'

Century plant 'Mediopicta' is a cultivar of the Century plant (Agave americana). The cultivar was selected to be significantly shorter than the parent plant. It's also noted for its variegated leaves with a cream central stripe, from which it gets its name ("mediopicta" means "with a coloured stripe down the centre-line").

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More General Info About Century plant

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Century plant is a striking perennial succulent with a rosette formation of rigid leaves. These gray-green leaves often exhibit a spiny margin and a sharp terminal point. Mature plants can take 10-25 years to bloom, producing a colossal flower stalk that can soar up to 15-30 feet (4.5-9 meters) high, resembling a narrow pole with horizontal branches near its apex. The plant displays panicles of greenish-yellow flowers, each 3-4 inches (7.6-10.2 cm) long, at the tips of these branches. Post-flowering, century plant produces vegetative offsets at its base, with the main plant ceasing to grow post blooming.