Agaves - True Desert Plants
This is the first of three articles on Agaves, Yuccas and Aloes.
They all look a lot alike. They have rosettes of large, green or grayish -green, thick, sometimes fleshy leaves. Leaves are lance-or sword-shaped, and often have spiny or sharp edges.
All three are in the same order, Asparagines. But here the similarities end. Yucca and agaves are in the family Agavaceae while aloes are in the family Asphodelacea.
Their origins are in different parts of the world. Agaves and yucca originated in southwestern North America (chiefly the southern and southwestern United States, and Mexico), in Central America, and in tropical South America. Agaves are also native to the West Indies.
Aloes on the other hand, are native to Africa, particularly South Africa, the tropical mountains of that continent, and the Arabian Peninsula.
Agaves
Agaves, though closely related to yuccas, flower only once in their lifetime and are known as monocarpic.
Perhaps the best known species of agaves is Agave Americana, also known as a Century Plant or American aloe (although it is not closely related to aloe). In Mexico, the plant is known as Maguey.
The fermented juice of agave americana (and other agave plants) are used in Mexico to make pulque, the national drink.
The fermented sap is also distilled to make mescal or mescal. Tequila is the most well-known form of mescal.
Native Americans of Mexico and southwestern U.S. used agave to make sewing needles, nails for building, string and as fiber for weaving. The fiber is still used today in Mexico, the West Indies and in parts of southern Europe.
Agave nectar is also used as a sugar substitute in cooking.
A word of warning: the sap from some agave species may cause serious skin rashes or reactions.
Agaves are gorgeous plants, and can grow to incredible sizes. There is an agave at the Horticultural Center at Texas A&M University which reaches over six feet, and I have seen some higher.
They can form "bones" of a desert garden, are a great accent plant, or be a focal point of unending interest.
They are relatively easy to grow, especially in desert gardens, and I have seen them grown down to zone 4, although I think I would stick to zone five and above. In zones 5 and six, shelter the plants by planting them on the south side of your garden, or on a south-facing slope. In higher zones, plant them anywhere.
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