Agave Cactus

It is very slow-growing but can eventually grow up to 70 cm high, with a cylindrical stem which becomes bare and corky at the base with age. It has long, slender, grayish-green tubercles 6-12 cm long, with purplish-red blotches at their tips. The tubercles are topped with papery spines, making the plant resemble an agave; old, basal tubercles dry up and fall off. After four years or so, yellow, funnel-shaped flowers 5-6 cm diameter may be borne at the tubercle tips. The fruit is smooth and green, 3 cm long and 2 cm broad. It has a large, tuberous taproot.

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Agave cactus is native to the American Southwest.Agave cactus is native to the American Southwest. Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Zest-pk Agave cactus is an evergreen plant of the Agavaceae family. This succulent plant species has adapted to life in the desert by forming fleshy leaves, waxy cuticles and roots that store extra water. While the agave cactus is a hardy plant, it is still susceptible to various diseases and bugs. More