Agave (Winter Hardy Century Plants)

All Century Plants offered on this page are native of southwestern USA and northern Mexico and reputedly winter hardy in Central Europe. However please note that we cannot give any warranty that these will indeed prove winter hardy in your local climate ! The cultivation of century plants outside in temperate climates is still in a more or less experimental phase, thus, if you would like to be on the safe side, grow these in pots and move pots outside in summer. All species have ornamental, succulent leaves in a cup-shaped basal rosette and an upright inflorescence on mature specimens. All winter hardy species can be successfully grown in any very well-drained, preferably rocky soil with protection from winter rains, which is essential for a successful overwintering plants outside in the garden, as winter wetness will inevitably lead to rotting in most species. Keep plants completely dry from end of September and cover with a protective glass frame. All species will die after flowering and either reproduce by offsets or (in few cases only) by seeds. Most plants are slow growing, yet very robust and long lived. Alternatively, plants can be grown in pots under frostfree conditions throughout the year. In winter keep pots in full sun completely dry at some 5°C to 10°C.
Sow seeds flat in pots at some 20°C to 30°C throughout the year in any rich, very well drained soil. Cultivate seedslings in pots under frostfree conditions for at least 2 years. After that carefully transplant young plants to the garden at the end of spring. Excellent in a protected spot in the rock garden.
All are USDA Climate Zone 7/8 unless otherwise specified.
20 seeds per package.