Swan’s Neck Agave (Agave attenuata)

Swan’s Neck Agave (Agave attenuata) is a species of agave for its development of a curved stem, unusual among agaves. Native to the plateau of central Mexico, as one of the unarmed agaves, it is popular as an ornamental plant in gardens. The stems typically range from 50-150 cm in length, and eventually old leaves fall off, leaving them naked and visible. The plants have a large rosette of thick fleshy leaves generally ending in a sharp point. It may take up to 10 years to bloom.

Swan’s neck agave’s flower spike is a thing of wonder, and will either produce greenish-yellow flowers or thousands of small plantlets, on its’ entire length. Each plant stalk blooms only once. Unlike other members of it’s family this plant doesn’t die after flowering. Agave attenuata are best propagated by digging pups produced at the base of older plants and seeds germinate readily when they are fresh.

Taxonomy:

Kingdom : Plantae
Division : Magnoliophyta
Class : Liliopsida
Order : Asparagales
Family : Agavaceae
Genus : Agave
Species : Agave attenuata

Pronunciation/Meaning:

• Agavaceae (ah-gav-AY-see-ay) - The Agave family (from the Greek word for noble).
• Agave (a-GAH-vee) - Noble, handsome.
• attenuata (at-ten-yoo-AY-tuh) - Thin, weak.

Common Names:

• Swan’s Neck Agave, Foxtail Agave, Lion’s Agave, Dragon-Tree Agave, Spineless Agave, Spineless Century Plant

Links:

• Flowers of India - Swan’s Neck Agave
• University of Florida : IFAS Extension - Swan’s Neck Agave

Image Courtesy of Michael Phillips.