Sisal (Agave sisalana)

Sisal
Agave sisalana

This picture was taken in the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden, in a special bed for Agaves (it was planned to represent Mexico. There´s an Aztec idol there, also).

how much do they pay a man to mow around all of those?

must hire a sadist.

Not really much, as I heard...

That must be a great place to visit. I notice that the lower leaves are trimmed up next to the plant. I wonder if that is for mowing purposes or if that is how agaves are treated normally? A whole bed of agaves would be a neat site indeed! Thanks for posting the picture.

I LIVE IN TEMECULA, CA.... WE HAVE ALOT OF LAND, WATER AND SUNSHINE...HAVE BEEN GROWING PALMS AND WOULD LOVE TO BUY 500 1 GALLON OF THESE AGAVE TEQUILANA WEBERS! I HAVE BEEN A GROWER FOR A LONG TIME AND LOOKINF FOR SOMETHING NEW....

i do notice that this particular agave only has a thorn out the top whereas the other photographs on the internet of agave tequilana have thorns up both sides of each leaf. I am currently making botanical signs for all of my plants and was told by a member of my local cacti club that it was agave tequilana, but when reading agave books they all seem to indicate that this particular agave has thorns up the sides of the leaves.

could you please explain to me how this could still be agave tequilana if there are no thorns up each side of the leaves. only the one at the top.

many thanks

sue

Well, not sure how good your eyes are, but mine can't see this plant well enough to tell if there are or are not dinky little thorns along the leaf margins as in Agave tequiliana... but I can tell you now that I know a bit more about Agaves that these are very atypical Agave tequilianas... and am pretty sure they are NOT that species... more likely Agave sisilanas.

I am an avid zymurgist (beer brewer) and am interested in expanding my repertoire. I'd like to try making some tequila from agave that I've grown. Has anyone ever done this, particularly in SoCal? I'm wondering about how long it takes until ready for harvest, any irrigation tips (my A. americanas have naturalized), what kind of yield should I expect to harvest relative to plants/quantity of beverege, and any other tips you might provide will be welcome. Thanks....Also, has anyone ever tried to grow & process Wormwood (Artemesia) & make absinthe? I think I've got the limes covered!!!

This message was edited May 3, 2010 8:32 PM

I agree with Palmbob that what you have pictured here is not Agave tequiliana, if you compare to all the other A. tequiliana's on this page: http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/55549/ you'll will see that your leaves are broader and apparently more flexible because they are bending over. They do look like Agave sisilana in this photo http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/35630/

Xeno.