Agave seemanniana

Agave seemanniana is an evergreen succulent in the asparagus family. Its native range runs from southern Mexico to Costa Rica. It grows in tropical places with a dry season. Wild plants grow on rocky slopes, in scrub and open woodland. They occur on soils formed from limestone or granite. The species has a wide range and grows in protected areas. Its reported IUCN status is Least Concern.

The plant forms a rosette with no visible trunk. It usually grows alone rather than making basal shoots. One account gives a height of 3.3–4.9 feet [1–1.5 metres]. It gives a width of 4.9–6.6 feet [1.5–2 metres]. LLIFLE describes smaller, more compact plants, so size varies. Pots keep plants smaller than those grown in the ground. Broad leaves spread outward and narrow sharply near their base. Their colour ranges from pale green to a dull blue-green. Teeth line the leaf edges, and each leaf ends in a spine. Leaf shape, size and teeth vary across the species.

Yellow, funnel-shaped flowers open in winter. A mature plant sends up a tall flower stem. This can reach 13–20 feet [4–6 metres]. The rosette dies after it flowers, following several years of growth. The fruit is a capsule that splits to release seeds. Seeds ripen by late spring, according to LLIFLE. The tall bloom stem contrasts with the low, spreading leaves.

Grow this agave in sandy or gravelly soil with free drainage. Use a very open soil mix when growing it in pots. Choose a pot with drainage holes. Growth can be fast when warmth, water and nutrients suit it. Give ample summer water, but let the soil dry between soakings. In winter, give just enough water to prevent shrivelled leaves. The species tolerates some frost, but LLIFLE recommends frost-free winter shelter. A pot can stand outdoors on a patio during summer.

People harvest this species to make mezcal in Oaxaca. They bake the hearts, then mash, ferment and distil them. People also sometimes ferment its sap to make pulque. These processed uses do not establish that raw parts are safe. The seedpods contain saponins and have served as fish poison. The leaf teeth and tip spines also pose a handling hazard.