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Spider agave — Agave bracteosa Spider agave — Agave bracteosa

Description

The Spider agave is a small species with long arching and twisting pale-green leaves that taper to a soft point. This garden-friendly species grows 12-15 in. tall and eventually forms clumps of plants several feet across. Each plant produces a 4-5 ft. tall flower stalk in late spring with colorful light yellow flowers. Unlike many other agaves, this species does not die after flowering.

This soft tipped species is good for mass plantings and containers in both residential and commercial landscapes. It is a good companion plant in southwestern and Mediterranean style garden plantings.

Water Needs

Spider agave is well adapted to all parts of the Inland Empire in sunny exposures with normal winter rains and low amounts of summer irrigation. The chart shown below provides a recommended baseline guide to the monthly irrigation schedule and volume of supplemental water needed to maintain healthy growth throughout the average year. It should be noted there are several months indicated by an asterisk (*) when winter rains often provide sufficient moisture and irrigation is not needed. The high and low range of moisture indicates Spider agave can grow with varying amounts of water; little supplemental water is needed during summer following the flowering cycle.

Irrigation Schedule and Graph

Low Water Use Plants

Irrigation Schedule 1

  Jan* Feb* Mar* Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov* Dec*
Runs per Month 0x to 2x 0x to 2x 0x to 2x 1x 1x 1x 1x 1x 1x 1x 0x to 2x 0x to 2x
Inches per Run 1" 1" 1" 1" 1" 1" 1" 1" 1" 1" 1" 1"
 
Inches per Month 0" to 2" 0" to 2" 0" to 2" 1" 1" 1" 1" 1" 1" 1" 0" to 2" 0" to 2"

Range of supplemental summer water: 7"
Range of supplemental winter water: 0"-10"

 
0"-2"
0"-2"
0"-2"
1"
1"
1"
1"
1"
1"
1"
0"-2"
0"-2"
  Jan* Feb* Mar* Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov* Dec*
For more information on how to use this Irrigation Schedule and Graph, follow this link.

For information how to calculate your irrigation system’s schedule and precipitation rate, please follow this link.

Plant Properties

Plant Type: Agave
Foliage Character: Evergreen
Habit: Clumping, Arching
Growth Rate: Moderate
Height: 2 ft. - 3 ft.
Width: 12 in. - 15 in.
Water Needs: Low 1
Foliage Color: Pale green
Flower Color: Yellow
Flower Season: Spring, Insignificant
Soil Adaptations: Well-draining soil, Rocky soil
Exposure Adaptations: Heat, Drought, All day sun, Partial sun
Function: Residential spaces, Raised planters, Near pools and water features, Mass planting, Hummingbird plant, Container plant, Borders

Maintenance

Remove "pups" to avoid overcrowding of primary rosette. Spider agave is a species that does not die after flowering (D).

References

Associations

Plant Lists