Re: Octopus Agave
- Subject: Re: Octopus Agave
- From: p*@att.net
- Date: Fri, 02 May 2003 17:19:53 +0000
Dear Jim,
Octopus agave is a common name for Agave vilmoriniana. It grows up to 3 ft.
tall and 5 ft. wide, with twisted leaves. It is damaged below 22-25 degrees F.,
so in colder climates, needs to be a container plant that can be protected from
winter cold. It is said to do well in a container, in which it will grow slowly
to full size. If blooms form, which can happen in as few as 10 years or as many
as 16 (though I don't know if this is likely in a container plant), bulbils
form on the flowering stem, and it is from these that the plant is usually
propagated. The plant is native to South Africa, where it is said to form
extensive vertical colonies in large, deep canyons, looking like giant spiders
on the cliff walls.
For more on agaves, see if you can find the book Agaves, Yuccas, and Related
Plants, by Mary and Gary Irish. Also see the Yuccado Nursery website.
Pam Peirce
San Francisco, CA
