Skip to main content

New Mexico Agave

New Mexico (Agave neomexicana) also called century plant or mescal is native to southern New Mexico.  New Mexico Agave grows as a rosette with broad gray green leaf blades.


The tip of each leaf blade has one long burgundy colored terminal spine. Each leaf blade also has short burgundy colored downward curving marginal spines.


New Mexico Agave grows slowly increasing in diameter annually with some specimens reaching about 3’ wide and 2’-2.5’ tall.


New Mexico Agave flowers once in its lifetime sending up a tall


thick stalked


candelabra-like flower panicle.


Flowers are usually red (or yellow) in color opening to yellow at maturity. Flowers are attractive to hummingbirds. New Mexico Agave may grow for 8-20 years of more before flowering.



This massive spectacular flower stalk is the plants last act as the mother plant then dies.


Although the mother plant dies after flowering, she also reproduces vegetatively leaving at her base from one to several young agaves called pups. These can be left to grow in place or dug-up and moved to a more favorable location to reduce crowding.


New Mexico Agave is best grown in full sun with low water on a well-drained soil. It is Hardy to USDA zone 5. Contact Trees That Please Nursery for more information and pricing.

Experience the beauty of the New Mexico Agave by clicking on the link below: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXKXMkpdsYM&feature=plcp


Photos & Narrative By:
Stephen Sain
Staff Plant Physiologist

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Question: How close to my house can I plant a Cottonwood tree?

Cottonwoods grow to be immense trees attaining dimensions of up to 40 - 50 feet tall and wide with a root system to match. Cottonwoods have a surface root system that can heave sidewalks, crack walls and home foundations if planted too close. Cottonwoods should be planted a minimal distance from structures of at least 25 feet if not further. Trees That Please Nursery carries two varieties of cotton-less, Cottonwood Trees. Please contact us or stop by the store for more information.
Post a Comment
Read more

Afghan Pine

The Afghan Pine ( Pinus eldarica ) is also known as Desert Pine, Eldarica Pine or Mondell Pine. Afghan Pine is native to low rainfall areas of Afghanistan, Pakistan, and southern Russia . In fact, when planted in areas of high rainfall (> 20” per year), it becomes susceptible to a number of diseases and rapidly declines. This problem has occurred in East Texas.   The Afghan Pine thrives in heat, wind, and tolerates drought. Afghan Pine must be planted in soils with good drainage like sand. It is not suitable for poorly drained heavy clasy soils. Afghan Pines are generally pyramidal or Christmas tree shaped in form when young   becoming more oval or irregular with age. The leaves of the Afghan Pine are evergreen needles usually found in groups of 2 per fascicle or sheath. Needles are shed after several years and make excellent mulch as they fall around the trees base.   It has attractive trunk bark that becomes dark and furrowed with...
4 comments
Read more

All About the Shantung Maple!

             The Shantung Maple ( Acer truncatum ) is also known as the Purple Blow Maple due to the color of its newly emerging leaves which are red-purple (see photo below). These young expanding red-purple leaves change to green as they mature. Leaves are small, about the size of Japanese Red Maple leaves, perhaps 3’-4’ wide at maturity.    The Shantung Maple grows 1′-2′ annually reaching 25″ tall and wide.    This is our tree for all planting situations. This Maple does well in heavy clay, sandy soils, full sun, or part shade. It can be planted in a lawn or next to a hot asphalt street (see photo below). It seemingly is a happy tree enjoying life wherever it is placed.    One place we would not recommend planting this tree is in a rockscape which is just too hot and inhospitable to support this beautiful tree.               A smaller tree, the Shantung Ma...
Post a Comment
Read more