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Agave Attenuata
Commonly known as the spineless century plant or the Gooseneck succulent.
Mrs Stattman of Paraparaumu Beach rang and asked me to visit the curious appendage that had appeared from the centre of one of her Agave rosettes. I was delighted to have the chance to photograph the specimen as it is not that common an occurance in our region to find one flowering.
Agave attenuata is a frost tender succulent from Mexico. It will grow and flourish in both sun or semi shade and grows quickly if kept well watered and nourished. Rosettes mature at around 20 years of age when they send a flowering shoot skywards. Over many months the shoot develops, first as a mass of green buds which open from the bottom up into flowers of creamy yellow. From the axils of the flowers new bulbils will eventually sprout, meanwhile the mother rosette slowly dies. She leaves behind her other rosettes which have grown from her side over the years. With her demise they will quickly fill out the space she leaves behind.
Agave attenuata is one of the most popular Agaves because she is spineless and forms such a structural low growing form. One lone plant can make an imposing statement.
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