Plant of the Month: February 2025

Title image above is copyright © Kristi Ellinopoullos

First published 1st February 2025

Family: Asparagacease (includes Asparagus, Agave, Yucca, and Hosta)
Genus: Agave (the agaves)

Botanical/Binomial Name: Agave univittata ‘Quadricolor’
Meaning of Name:
Agave, from Ancient Greek aγαύη (agaúē, ‘agave’), from ἀγαυός (agauós, ‘noble, illustrious’); and
univittata, from Latin uni- (‘one’) + Latin vittāta (feminine singular of vittatus, ‘having a band or stripe’) having one band or stripe

Common Name: Centre-Stripe Century Plant, Centre Stripe Agave, Thorn-crested Century Plant, Thorn-crested Century Agave

Botanical Characteristics: Succulent | Perennial | Evergreen | Monocarpic | Drought tolerant | Frost hardy
Propagation: Division of roots with attached ‘pups’

Plant Description:
This is the ‘Quadricolor’ cultivar of Agave univittata, a small, slow-growing agave native to southern Texas and north-eastern Mexico coastal regions.

All agaves are monocarpic, meaning they flower once and then die. However, they are also known as ‘century plants’ as this can take decades to occur! Until this happens, each plant will produce many ‘pups’ via suckering roots, which can be separated and grown separately at any time.

Growing Information:

Agave univittata ‘Quadricolor’ is a tough and hardy species which doesn’t require much care other than some occassional fertilising. Over-watering may lead to root-rot — allow them to thrive on neglect!
Newly developed ‘pups’ can be left in place to produce a clumping arrangement or removed at any time to start a new mother plant elsewhere.

Growth will top out at about 65 cm tall and wide, but this will take many years.

PLEASE NOTE that the leaf marginal spines and terminal tips are long and extremely sharp. Keep away from pets, children and eye-level in general.