Taxon

Agave havardiana

 
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Agave havardiana - Havard's agave, Havard's century plant, Big Bend century plant
Image: Janice Tucker
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Common name: Havard's agave, Havard's century plant, Big Bend century plant
Family: Asparagaceae (Asparagus)
Distribution: Texas, Northern Mexico
Habitat: Desert scrub, grasslands, pinyon-juniper and oak forests
Hardiness: USDA Zone 5 (-20 to -10 °F)
Life form: Cactus/succulent
Occurrence in New Mexico: Exotic
Growing Conditions: A. havardiana grows in gravelly to rocky, often calcareous, soils on slopes or in open woodlands at elevations from 3,600-6,000 feet. It is native to the Big Bend area of west Texas as well as to Chihuahua and Coahuilla, Mexico. Low water requirements, growth in full sun to light shade in well draining soil, and cold hardiness to 15 degrees F make this agave a good accent plant in the landscape. It is usually solitary and does not form colonies, but occasionally forms suckers.
Description: This midsized Agave is 2-3 feet tall by 3-4 feet wide. It forms a rosette low to the ground, with short, broad, silver-gray leaves with sharp marginal teeth and terminal spines. It is usually solitary but occasionally older plants produce offsets. The plant blooms after 20 to 40 years, bearing yellow-green flowers on a tall, branched spike up to 23 feet high. The plant usually dies after blooming. The fruits are oblong and up to 2 ½ inches long.
Links: Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN-Taxonomy) • NatureServe Explorer • SEINet • Wildflower Center - Native Plant Database

Locations

  • 1: Welcome Garden • Accession: 2013-0046/14 • Provenance: Cultivated of Garden Origin
  • 2: Welcome Garden • Accession: 2013-0046/17 • Provenance: Cultivated of Garden Origin
  • 3: Xeric Garden Hot Box - NE bed • Accession: 2013-0046/9 • Provenance: Cultivated of Garden Origin
  • 4: Xeric/Dry Garden • Accession: 2013-0046/16 • Provenance: Cultivated of Garden Origin
  • 5: Xeric/Dry Garden • Accession: 2013-0046/1 • Provenance: Cultivated of Garden Origin
  • 6: Xeric/Dry Garden • Accession: 2013-0046/2 • Provenance: Cultivated of Garden Origin
  • 7: Xeric/Dry Garden • Accession: 2013-0046/3 • Provenance: Cultivated of Garden Origin
  • 8: Xeric/Dry Garden • Accession: 2013-0046/4 • Provenance: Cultivated of Garden Origin
  • 9: Xeric/Dry Garden • Accession: 2013-0046/5 • Provenance: Cultivated of Garden Origin
  • 10: Xeric/Dry Garden • Accession: 2013-0046/6 • Provenance: Cultivated of Garden Origin
  • 11: Xeric/Dry Garden • Accession: 2013-0046/7 • Provenance: Cultivated of Garden Origin
  • 12: Xeric/Dry Garden • Accession: 2013-0046/8 • Provenance: Cultivated of Garden Origin
Cluster Area Area
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