Description
This is a slow-growing (non-offsetting) century plant with a compact, symmetrical, solitary rosette up to 30 cm tall by 25-45 cm wide.
Leaves: Dark green with a sharp reddish terminal spine and margins highlighted with a strong creamy-white variegation and curly white hairs.
Flower: When plant matures it can produce red-purple buds and greenish flowers on a 3 m tall spike.
Remarks: Agave schidigera differs from Agave filifera by being solitary, typically having longer more flexible leaves that are not thickened toward the base and larger flowers. This plant has been in cultivation for years as Agave filifera f. compacta marginata.
Origin and Habitat
Garden origin (probably Japan)
Cultivation and Propagation
It is an excellent plant suited to north parts (avoid strong direct sunlight).
It works well with other succulents or even tropical plant material. It is well suited for a container inside or a sheltered warm spot outdoors. Although it survives in poor soils and can tolerate full sun to to full shade, it does best in rich but well-drained soil mix ( 2 parts peat moss to 1 part loam to 1 part of pumice) with filtered sun exposures. The plant is drought tolerant but does better with ample moisture and grows quickly if kept well watered and nourished (Slow release fertilizer applied once or twice a year is usually sufficient). During the winter months, one should only water enough to keep the leaves from shrivelling. Plants cultivated outdoors are more drought tolerant. Protect from snails which can also disfigure the plant.
Propagation: By removing suckers (seldom available) produced at the base of older plants or by micropropagation.
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