The Queensland Gardening Pages

Information & resources about plants & gardens for Brisbane & Qld

Agaves and Sansevierias

The Agaves and Sansevieria have really been rediscovered in recent years as landscapers search for easy-care plants with strong sculptural lines for use in gardens or as container specimens.

In the ground, little or no supplemental watering will be required.

On other pages:

Where to buy Agaves and Sansevierias in Qld

Given the demand these days, most regular garden centres are likely to offer the most popular landscaping agaves for sale.

For a greater selection, or hard-to-find species, look for a specialist succulent nursery (go to the Succulents page).

More Information

Like many other drought-tolerant plants, this group has potential to become environmental weeds in some areas, so take care. If in doubt, consult appropriate local authorities.

Furcraea foetida

This is an agave-like plant with quite slender leaves. You may have seen it recently in Balinese-style or other modern tropical gardens, particularly in its variegated form (F. foetida 'Mediopicta'). Actually, it was at one time classified as an agave (A. foetida or A. gigantea) and is still in the same family (Agavaceae). You may also see it listed as Furcraea gigantea. The common name of Mauritius Hemp alludes to its use as a fibre crop. For more information, see the links at the bottom of the page.

More Links

Please note: The following links are for general information and further research - some species or cultivars may be unavailable in Australia

Also, there may be sections on agaves in other websites dealing with succulents in general. See: Succulents.

Agave

Add Dramatic Landscape Effect with Agaves Arid-Southwestern Gardening Information, University of Arizona

Warm Climate Production Guidelines for Agave University of Florida

Agave (Agave spp.) Landscape Plant Propagation Information, University of Florida

Agaves for Small Spaces Arid-Southwestern Gardening Information, University of Arizona

Agavaceae University of Hawaii

Verde Valley Agaves Backyard Gardener column, March 24, 1999. Arizona Cooperative Extension, University of Arizona

Agave attenuata Spineless Century Plant. University of Florida USA (PDF)

Swan's Neck Agave Agave attenuata. Flowers of India

Agave americana L. New South Wales Flora Online

Agave americana Century Plant. University of Florida USA (PDF)

Agave americana Century plant. Arid Plant List, University of Arizona

Century Plant Agave americana Ornamentals for the Texas Gulf Coast (Texas A&M University)

Agave americana 'Marginata' Variegated Century Plant. University of Florida USA (PDF)

Century plant Agave Americana Moody Demonstration Garden, Arizonia

Agave americana "mediopicta" 'alba' Moody Demonstration Garden, Arizonia

Desert Agave Agave deserti. Moody Demonstration Garden, Arizonia

Agave ocahui Moody Demonstration Garden, Arizonia

Agave parryi huachucensis Parry's agave. Arid Plant List, University of Arizona

Agave parryi Encyclopedia of Stanford Trees, Shrubs & Vines

Agave angustifolia Caribbean Agave. University of Florida USA (PDF)

Agave eggersiana (St. Croix Agave), St. George Village Botanical Garden St. Croix, United States Virgin Islands

Agave 'Blue Flame' International Succulent Plant Introductions of the Huntington Botanical Gardens

Agave titanota The United States Botanic Garden

Agave wendtii Chazaro International Succulent Plant Introductions of the Huntington Botanical Gardens

Smooth Agave Agave desmettiana. Moody Demonstration Garden, Arizonia

Twin Flowered Agave Agave geminiflora. Moody Demonstration Garden, Arizonia

Agave lophantha - Thorncrest Century Plant University of Oklahoma

Sisal Industry Turks and Caicos National Museum, Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos Islands, British West Indies. Agave sisalana was once used as a commerical fibre crop in this region

Once in a lifetime, perhaps... Agave mapisaga var. lisa. Huntington Desert Garden, California

Agave missionum Trel. United States Dept Agriculture Forest Service, USA (PDF)

Agave palmeri UBC Botanical Garden and Centre for Plant Research, University of British Columbia, Canada

Blue Agave Agave tequiliana. Flowers of India

Agave weberi Weber's agave. Arid Plant List, University of Arizona

Agave vilmoriniana Octopus agave Arid Plant List, University of Arizona

Furcraea

Furcraea foetida (L.) Haw. New South Wales Flora Online

Furcraea foetida (L.) Haw. factsheet from United States Dept Agriculture Forest Service, USA (PDF)

Genus Furcraea PlantNET, Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust, Sydney

Furcraea foetida Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER)

Furcraea, Agavaceae, Photo Gallery of Cacti and Other Succulents by Friedrich A. Lohmueller (be sure to check out the rest of the gallery if you're interested in these types of plants)

November 2005 Plant Highlight: Furcraea selloa The Ruth Bancroft Garden, California

Virtual Tour of the AOS Garden \ Formal Lawn American Orchid Society, Florida. Includes notes on Furcraea foetida `Mediopicta' (Variegated False Agave)

Furcraeas What happens when they flower? Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture

Sansevieria

Sansevieria trifasciata Hort. ex Prain New South Wales Flora Online

The Sansevieria Garden, St. George Village Botanical Garden St. Croix, United States Virgin Islands

How About Sansevieria University of Illinois

Sansevieria trifasciata 'Hahnii' Dwarf Snake Plant. University of Florida (PDF)

Sansevieria hyacinthoides Aquatic, Wetland and Invasive Plants, Florida

Snake Plant aka Mother In Law's Tongue (Sanservieria trifasciata) Herself's Houston Garden (Blog)

African Spear (Sansevieria cylindrica pathula) Herself's Houston Garden (Blog)

Sansevieria trifasciata 'Hahnii' Landscape Plant Propagation Information, University of Florida

Sansevieria trifasciata 'Golden Hahnii' Landscape Plant Propagation Information, University of Florida

Sansevieria trifasciata 'Silver Hahnii' Landscape Plant Propagation Information, University of Florida

Sansevieria parva Kenya Hyacinth. Landscape Plant Propagation Information, University of Florida