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Scientific name: Agave victoriae-reginae T. Moore Family: Agavaceae Habitat: Mexico ( Coahila, Chihuahua desert) where it grows mainly in calcareous soil characterised by a desert or semi-desert environment. Large colonies may often be found growing along the steep slopes of the canyons.
Description:
Small and quite compact, the Agave victoriae-reginae is a normal and solitary plant even if, when cultivated, it flourishes. The green leaves with their strongly marked white borders are short ( 15-20 cms.), rigid and thick and grow close together. At the end of each leaf is a short and robust black thorn. The inflorescence takes the form of a spike, from 2 to 4 metres high, containing many paired flowers of various colours, often with shades of purple red. As with all types of Agave, the effort to produce the flowers exhausts the plant which dies within a short time. It reproduces thanks to the seeds dispersed in the wind and the lateral shoots produced at the base of the stem just before it dies.
Cultivation:
Thanks to the perfect symmetry and the beauty of the design on the leaves, the Agave victoriae-reginae may be found throughout the world and often forms part of collections of succulents. It requires well-drained soil and exposure to sunlight. It should be kept dry in winter with minimum temperatures above zero in order to obtain good results. To give this marvellous plant vigour and life, water well during spring and summer, adding potassium-rich fertiliser.Along the coast or in areas where there are no frosts, these plants may be cultivated with success outdoors where their beauty is better observed. In cold climates it is adviseable to cultivate these plants in pots in order to protect them during the winter in dry, fresh rooms.
Reproduction:
Sow or by scion using the base shoots which, nearly always, already have roots.
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