Agave Lophantha Splendida

Agave Lophantha Splendida

This Agave Lophantha splendida form of the vigorous North American native Agave Lophantha Splendida came to us from plantsman Ted Stephens of Nurseries Caroliniana. Each 11″ tall x 18″ wide variegated rosette is composed of fat, 7″ long x 2″ wide, succulent leaves. The dark green, heavily-armed leaves are highlighted by a wide central yellow stripe that is even wider on the leaf back. Agave lophantha is a suckering century plant species with offsets held close to the parent rosette. When your Agave Lophantha Splendida is old enough, it will be topped with a 12′ tall, 1″ diameter flower spike holding manfreda-like, spidery, fragrant flowers…hummingbirds not included.

Agave lophantha Splendida is a succulent perennial plant that is winter-hardy and easy to care for. This plant can be used in landscapes or grown in containers.

Commonly mistaken for cacti or aloe plants, Agave is a separate genus with very distinct features. Native to the southwestern United States and Mexico, there are over 200 species of Agave plants.

Agave Lophantha Splendida, also known as thorncrest century plant, grows very slowly to about 2 feet in diameter and up to 2 to 3 feet tall.

In partially shaded areas, this plant can be used as a focal point in a desert garden, or in groups as a barrier. The saw-like flat leaves grow from a dense rosette base and spiral outwards.

The foliage varies in color depending on the cultivar. Agave lophantha quadricolor has dark green leaves, with yellow edges and a pale green strip down the middle; the leaves are also accented with dark red teeth lining the sides.

Other cultivars also have dark green leaves with a lighter colored stripe pattern. The Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association chose the center stripe agave (Agave lophantha Splendida ) as a Florida Garden Select Plant for 2013. This variety has dark green rosettes highlighted with a creamy-gold center stripe down each leaf that brightens in spring and early summer.

It takes several years for this plant to bloom, and has greenish yellow flowers on a stalk which can reach 12 feet tall. As with most Agaves, each plant only flowers once and then dies soon afterwards. However, numerous  are produced around the base which will continue to grow.