Agave weberi (28/02/2016, Kew Gardens, London)
Position: Full sun to light shade
Flowering period: Late spring to early summer
Soil: Moist, well drained
Eventual Height: 2m (flower spike up to 5m)
Eventual Spread: 2.5m
Hardiness: 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 11
Family: Asparagaceae
Sub Family: Agavoideae
Agave weberi is an evergreen, rosette forming perennial shrub. Its fleshy grey/ green leaves are ovate with usually entire margins and an acuminate tip, up to 1.2m long and 25cm across. It leaves are arranged in a rosette. Its yellow flowers appear as branched racemes on flower spike which may be up to 5m long. Each plant flowers once after which it dies. It produces rhizome like offsets which helps the spread of this plant. Its root system is shallow and fibrous.
Agave weberi, commonly known as Weber’s Agave or Maguey Iiso, is native to south Texas to north east Mexico. In its native habitat it grows in sandy soils in low scrubby vegetation.
The etymological root of the binomial name Agave is derived from Greek mythology being the daughter of Cadmus, who supposedly founded the city of Thebes. Weberi is named after Frédéric Albert Constantin Weber (1830 – 1903), a French botanist.
The landscape architect may find Agave weberi useful as a dramatic specimen plant. Once established this plant is drought tolerant. This plant may be growing as a houseplant providing sufficient light and room are given, it should be noted its leaf tips have sharp spines. It would be suitable for conservatory or atrium type conditions.
Agave weberi Leaf (28/02/2016, Kew Gardens, London)
Ecologically, Agave weberi flowers are attractive to nectar loving birds and pollinating insects.
Agave weberi prefers moist, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil. It will tolerate poor soils.
When maintaining Agave weberi as a houseplant its soil should be watered sparingly. Watering should be reduced during the winter months. Its preferred active growing temperature rages from between 14ºc to 24ºc, although it will tolerate a temperature below freezing. Feeding with weak fertiliser solution should be carried out once a month during the growing season. The removal of dying lower leave will help to create a tidy appearance and expose its stem.
Landscape Architecture
