The Agave Page 01, 02
Agavaceae = Agave Family, Century Plants

Left: Beschorneria albiflora Syn: Beschorneria chiapensis
growing as an understory plant in the Temperate House, RBG Kew. The rosette of lanceolate leaves is carried on a thick stem, which may extend to several feet along the ground, curving up at the end. Despite the albiflora epiphet, the flowers are only briefly white becoming a pale pink which darkens with age. The long, branched flower stem is bright red.
Typical habitat of Beschorneria albiflora is moist oak forest on mountains of the south-Mexican states of Oaxaca and Chiapas, Guatamala and Honduras. It grows at altitudes of 6600ft and is said to withstand a little frost, but probably best for gardens in a mild or Mediterranean climate. The fresh flowers are eaten fried in egg.

Left: Beschorneria septentrionalis
The foliage consists of rosettes of narrow, soft, strap-like leaves. The inflorescence is a bright red 5 foot tall panicle with 4 to 6 branches, bearing clusters of pendulous, tubular, waxy red flowers with green tips. Only the top of the flower stem is shown here.
 
Native to North-Eastern Mexico and the most Northerly species of Beschorneria, said to tolerate slight frost. A very showy feature plant which is attractive to humming birds.

Above: Beschorneria yuccoides from high mountainous regions of central and eastern Mexico, growing outside in a sunny sheltered corner at the RHS Wisley gardens, UK. This species is the most widely cultivated Beschorneria. The rosettes need protection from severe frost and are best suited to a Mediterranean climate. The 2-3 ft long leaves have rough but not sharp serrated margins and lack terminal spines so are suitable as architectural plants near paths. The decorative 6ft inflorescence carries numerous small tubular flowers. Polycarpic rosettes offset freely from their base after flowering.

left: Furcraea cahum from the Yucatan, Mexico is similar to F. hexapetala. The rosette of 4-6ft leaves with sharp marginal teeth, develops a short 3ft stem with age. The inflorescence up to 15 ft tall bears slightly pubescent yellowish green flowers, followed by many bulbils. This plant is a source of fibre for sacking and ropes.
Photographed in the Desert Botanic Garden, Phoenix, Arizona.

left: Furcraea foetida (Mauritius Hemp) is native to northern S. America, but widely planted in Mediterranean climates. It is used as a commercial fibre crop, especially on the island of Mauritius.
 
The rosette is similar to that of F. selloa but there are fewer marginal teeth and no trunk, or occasionally only a very short one. The inflorescence of greenish-white, perfumed flowers may be up to 25 ft tall. Flowers are followed by bulbils which may be used to propagate new plants.
This specimen is a variegated cultivar, possibly F. foetida var. medio-picta. Photograph: Lowell B. Smith, Kingston, Jamaica.

left: Furcraea longaeva flowering at RHS Wisley. June 2004.
This tender southern Mexican species is noted for producing a huge inflorescence over 40 ft tall. The 12ft spike shown here is rather small for the species. The decorative pendant flowers are slightly hairy (pubescent) on their exterior and are later replaced by bulbils which produce the next generation of plants. The pliable leaves forming the rosette have smooth margins and lack the surgically sharp terminal spine of many Agaves, so are non-hazardous and suitable as Summer bedding plants near paths as visitor-friendly architectural plants.

Furcraea selloa has a striking rosette of stiff 4 ft sword-shaped green leaves up to 3 in wide and furnished with sharp marginal teeth. The plant develops a short stout trunk up to 5ft tall and with age can offset at the base to create a clump. The branched inflorescence can be over 20 ft tall. Greenish-white flowers are followed by small bulbils which can be used to propagate new plants.
 
left: Furcraea selloa var marginata is probably grown more commonly than the all-green parent. The short, thick trunk is characteristic of a mature plant. Persistent old leaves have been trimmed from the trunk for neatness. Seen here in the Napier Botanical Garden, New Zealand.
Photo: Phil Parker.

Furcraea selloa originates in Central America (Colombia) and is a popular architectural or specimen plant, for mild, sunny climates where frost is uncommon. If light frosts are anticipated, try planting in a sunny corner near buildings or under trees. Place this plant to minimise contact with the toothed leaves or obtain one of the selected toothless varieties.

left, below: Hesperaloe campanulata (Bell flower Hesperaloe) flowering at the Boyce Thompson Arboretum, Arizona, May 2006.
The stemless rosette has narrow concave leaves up to 3ft long with markedly filamentous edges. The plant may offset to form clumps. The branched flower stem up to 10 ft tall carries pink bell-shaped flowers with white petal margins and white insides.
Hesperaloe campanulata originates in Nuevo Leon, Mexico and is drought and cold tolerant. It's compact form makes it ideal for small xerophytic gardens.

left: Hesperaloe parviflora (Red Yucca) flowering outside the Post Office, Alpine, Texas. October 2003.
A native plant from west-Texas and north-eastern Mexico, most commonly seen cultivated outside south-western motels and shopping malls as a xerophytic ornamental. A sunny location is required for production of the showy blooms, varying in colour from reds through to pinks. Plants are polycarpic, so unlike most Agaves, Hesperaloe parviflora doesn't die after flowering.
Hesperaloe parviflora grows as a stemless rosette and spreads vegetatively through offsets and rhizomes. It is trouble-free and tolerant of heat, drought and some winter cold although probably only under dry conditions.