Description
This is a striking variegated form of Agave toumeyana var. bella (Toumey’s Century Plant) with leaves stripped with a broad white longitudinal line, all the other characteristics are absolutely identical, namely size and form of rosettes, number and form of leaves, flowers, fruits and seeds.
Rosettes: Small, up to 20 cm in diameter, 25 cm tall, each with 100–200 leaves at maturity. Individual rosettes are small and compact, but plants sucker readily forming large clumps.
Leaves: 9 to 20 cm long, 0,6 to 2 cm wide of equal length giving the rosette a flat-topped appearance, light to dark green, with a broad white variegation on the middle, with striking white bud imprints. Leaf margins are green, smooth with a brown border and white threadlike curling white threads, replaced by denticulate margins below 1/3 of leaf. The white filaments on the leaf edges curl to resemble tight ringlets. When it gets watered on, the filaments immediately partly uncurl, but as they dry out they slowly re-curl again. Apical spine subulate, with a short narrow groove above, 1(-2)cm long, brown to greyish.
Flowers: The slender flower stalk (spike) is smaller (1,5 m tall) than in the typical variety with densely or laxly flowers in the upper ½-¼ part, pale greenish yellow flowers 1,6–2,1 cm. limb lobes 6,5–7 mm. Filaments 1,1-1,3 cm.
Blooming season: Late spring to early summer.
Remarks: The ‘bella” variety is much smaller and compact than the Agave toumeyana (up to 20 cm tall). It has shorter, more equal, leaves with margins replaced by denticles in the lower ½ of the leaf and makes a denser rosette. It also make smaller inflorescence.
Origin and Habitat
Garden origin (Nursery produced cultivar)
Cultivation and Propagation
It is a relative easy-to-grow species. Need a very well-drained, soil. It grows fairly fast in summer if provided with copious water but allows to dry thoroughly before watering again. During the winter months, one should only water enough to keep the leaves from shrivelling. They do well in hal-sun or a lightly shaded area. It is a wonderful companion plant for Echinocereus and Escobaria cacti species.
Hardiness: Agave toumeyana subsp. bella is a very cold hardy form of the species. It is theoretically hardy to -12°C (or more) particularly when dry. However the variegated varieties are more sensitive and it is best to avoid freezing temperatures.
Propagation: It is propagated vegetatively by suckers which often are found growing around the base of the plant. Remove the basal suckers (if available) in spring or summer and let the cuttings dry for a few days before inserting in compost or by seed.
Bibliography
Major references and further lectures
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Howard Scott Gentry “Agaves of Continental North America” University of Arizona Press, 01/Feb/2004
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Urs Eggli “Illustrated Handbook of Succulent Plants: Monocotyledons” Springer, 2001
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Hermann Jacobsen ”A Handbook of Succulent Plants: Abromeitiella to Euphorbia” Blandford Press, 1960
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