Agave salmiana var. ferox

Water:

April-September: 1 x every 2 weeks*

October-March: 1x per month *

*This is only for a sunny location

Light: sunny

Nutrition: 1x per month (May-September)

Agave salmiana var. ferox is an imposing agave found naturally in Central and Southern Mexico. The plant is also widely cultivated and has naturalized in tropical countries worldwide. This agave is frequently seen in cultivation and is one of the most impressive species you can grow.

Agave salmiana var. ferox is an enormous agave that develops an urn-shaped silhouette over time. The leaves are very wide and well-armed with spines, up to 35 cm wide. They are 1 to 2 meters long, broadly lanceolate, and narrowly tapering towards the base. The leaves have a firm, smooth, and stiff texture with a gray-green to glaucous grayish color. The leaf margins are wavy and equipped with brown to grayish-brown spines, 1 to 2 cm long, which are set on fleshy raised cushions.

The striking feature of this agave is the hard and long apical spine at the tip of each leaf. This terminal spine can grow up to 8 cm long and is dark brown with a groove on the upper side. The name ferox refers to this impressive armament. Agave salmiana var. ferox eventually reaches dimensions of 3.5 meters wide or more, making this plant a true statement piece.

When Agave salmiana var. ferox matures, it produces a very tall flower stalk that can reach up to 9 meters in height. This candelabra-like stalk bears bright yellow flowers that attract birds and bees. The flowers are large and fleshy, 8 to 11 cm long, often starting reddish in bud but opening yellow or greenish-yellow. As with many agaves, the plant dies after flowering, and the offsets take over.

If Agave salmiana var. ferox is overwintered protected from rain, it can withstand temperatures down to -9 degrees Celsius.

A: Agave B: NL-765431734 C: D: NL