| \t Item: | \t Excellent heat tolerance short stem natural garden succulents large-thorned agave Agave macroacantha |
| \t Origin and Habitat: | \tAgave macroacantha is native to northern Oaxaca and also near the town of Tehuacan in the State of Puebla, Mexico
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| \t Habitat and ecology:
| \t It grows in barren rocky, very arid terrain. It is common on the dry sedimentary slopes about Tehuacan. |
| \t Description: | \t Agave macroacantha (Black-spined Agave) is a medium sized agave that forms dense clumps to 60 cm tall by 1.5 m wide composed of very regular leaf rosettes of a bluish grey colour that can be basal or can grow on a very short stem. Leaves are succulent, narrow sword-shaped blue-grey or greyish green and up to 35 cm long at a maximum, ending in sharp, contrasting, black spines at the tips. Flowers are small, purple-tinged green with a fuzzy interior, growing in bunches on sturdy stems of up to 3 m in height,though it has been reported that the age of the plant needs to be 15 years or better to flower. In the wild it is a very variable plant, with some populations having large, jet-black terminal spines, some having red-brown spines, some with small spines, some large. Several atypical variants were also reported, some doubtless due to artificial growing in greenhouses. |
| \t Rosetes: | \t Small, 25 - 40 cm high, usually caespitose, with numerous evenly spaced leaves spreading widely from the centre. |
| \t Leaves: | \t Linear, rigid, radiately spreading, patulous, acuminate, 25-35 long, 2.5-3 cm, bluish-grey-glaucous, margins straight or undulate; larger marginal teeth 3-4 mm, dark brown, irregularly spaced 1-3 cm apart, with slender cusps mostly curved from small low bases. Terminal spine subulate, straight to sinuous, rounded below, flat above, 3-3.5 cm long, dark brown to grey, not decurrent. |
| \t Inflorescence: | \t About 2 m tall, paniculate, slender, part-inflorescences shortly spreading, 10-14 in the upper 1/4 of the inflorescence. Often after the flowering there appear " small bulbs"( already formed tiny plants) which fall to the ground, |
| \t Cultivation and Propagation: | \t Agave macroacantha (Black-spined Agave) is a stunning specimen plant for containers. In milder climates this plant grows well outdoor in full sun (Light shade or eastern exposure in hot areas), plant in deep well drained soil where the climate is suitable ( coastal zones and islands). The plants in pot tend to be slow grower, but worth the effort. |
| \t Growth rate: | \t Agave macroacantha is relatively slow growing, taking several years to reach flowering size. |
| \t Soil: | \t Plant in well-drained soil. It is better to use wide pots which allow space for the roots of the Agave macroacantha to grow. |
| \t Repotting: | \t Every two years the pots should be changed, shortening the roots and eliminating the buds which suck the goodness from the plant, limiting its growth. |
| \t Exposure: | \t Full sun or light shade or eastern exposure in hot low desert areas. |
| \t Waterings: | \t Water thoroughly when soil is dry to the touch. In winter watering this plant can be done once every 1-2 months, there is no need to mist the leaves. The blue-and blue-gray-leaved forms are from very arid areas, and once established in ground the plants should be kept dry to prevent any potential rot. The blue-green-leaved form is from slightly more moist areas, and will tolerate extra water. |
| \t Hardiness: | \t Agave macroacantha can tolerate nighttime air temperatures of -6°C when droughted but not if watered and it is |
| \t Packaging: | \t hangtag, then each into individual carton box |
| \t Delivery period: | \t 15-30days after payment |
