Agave americana 'Marginata' Variegated Century Plant1
Edward F. Gilman2
Introduction
Variegated Century Plant is common in cultivation, having twisted green leaves with marginal bands of bright yellow (Figure 1). The leaves gracefully fold back on themselves giving much the appearance of giant bands of striped ribbon. Its tight rosette of stiff, sword-shaped leaves, each up to six feet long and 10 inches wide, makes a dramatic statement in the landscape and is much favored for use in rock gardens. The sharp spine at the tip of its toothed leaves is often removed to protect people and pets. Locate it at least six feet away from walks and other areas where people could contact the spiny foliage.
General Information
Figure 1.
Variegated Century Plant.
[Click thumbnail to enlarge.]
Scientific name: Agave americana 'Marginata'
Pronunciation: uh-GAW-vee uh-mair-rick-KAY-nuh
Common name(s): Variegated Century Plant
Family: Agavaceae
Plant type: shrub
USDA hardiness zones: 9 through 11 (Figure 2)
Planting month for zone 9: year round
Planting month for zone 10 and 11: year round
Origin: native to North America
Uses: border; accent; mass planting
Figure 2.
Shaded area represents potential planting range.
[Click thumbnail to enlarge.]
Availability: somewhat available, may have to go out of the region to find the plant
Description
Height: 6 to 8 feet
Spread: 6 to 10 feet
Plant habit: round
Plant density: open
Growth rate: slow
Texture: coarse
Foliage
Leaf arrangement: spiral
Leaf type: simple
Leaf margin: spiny
Leaf shape: lanceolate
Leaf venation: none, or difficult to see
Leaf type and persistence: evergreen
Leaf blade length: more than 36 inches
Leaf color: variegated
Fall color: no fall color change
Fall characteristic: not showy
Flower
Flower color: white
Flower characteristic: summer flowering
Fruit
Fruit shape: oval
Fruit length: 1 to 3 inches
Fruit cover: dry or hard
Fruit color: brown
Fruit characteristic: persists on the plant
Trunk and Branches
Trunk/bark/branches: not particularly showy; usually with one stem/trunk
Current year stem/twig color: not applicable
Current year stem/twig thickness: not applicable
Culture
Light requirement: plant grows in part shade/part sun
Soil tolerances: alkaline; clay; sand; acidic; loam
Drought tolerance: high
Soil salt tolerance: unknown
Plant spacing: 36 to 60 inches
Other
Roots: usually not a problem
Winter interest: no special winter interest
Outstanding plant: plant has outstanding ornamental features and could be planted more
Invasive potential: not known to be invasive
Pest resistance: no serious pests are normally seen on the plant
Use and Management
Century Plant is a hardy survivor, tolerating heat, drought, and salty seaside conditions. It grows best in full sun but can adapt to shade. After 10 years or more (though not a century), a lofty flower spike is produced, sometimes reaching a height of 20 feet or more, with terminal panicles of pale yellow to white blooms. The plant dies after blooming. The plant is typically used in residences as a free-standing specimen, not planted in mass. Due to its large size, most residences only need one of these. Larger commercial landscapes have room for multiple mass plantings which can create a dramatic impact.
Variegated Century Plant is propagated by detaching the well-rooted suckers appearing at the base, or by plantlets formed on the flower spike.
Foliage of Variegated Century Plant.
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Pests and Diseases
No pests or diseases are of major concern.
Footnotes
This document is FPS 20, one of a series of the Environmental Horticulture, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Original publication date September 1999. Revised May 2007. Reviewed June 2011. Visit the EDIS website at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.
Edward F. Gilman, professor, Environmental Horticulture Department, Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, 32611.
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