Agave Species, Sisal Agave, Hemp Agave, Century Plant, Maguey

The Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council has listed this species as a Category ll invasive. It has the potential to damage natural habitat a...Read Morend reduce biodiversity.

This plant is extremely invasive. Be careful when plant it. This plant is naturalized in almost all warm areas of the world, it's very co...Read Moremmon in the mediterranean coast where I live and it destroyed Madagascar with more invasive succulents such as prickly pears and cereus.

THis large species of AGave is actually some creation of man and has no country of origin. It's a sterile hybrid and flowers produce no ...Read Moreseeds (but do produce bulbils which can be grown into adult plants). THis is one of the few agaves that develop a trunk, up to 3'. THe more common form is the variegated form (described elsewhere) but the non-variegated are still impressive: huge, sword-like leaves usually without toothed margins, and long, brown and sharp terminal spine. Often confused with Furcraeas. This species has become economically important in both Africa and Mexico as a source of Sisal, or fine Agave fibre. Leaves are sort of rubbery, also making it seem a bit less like an Agave than a Yucca. Does sucker, up to 10 from the plant, so can be a garden weed. And it is not too cold hardy, having moderate leaf damage at 25F