What is Agave?
Agave is a large genus of succulent plant that includes over 200 species. The New World native has been used as a source of food, fiber, and ornamentation for hundreds of years, and has spread far beyond its original range, thanks to migrating peoples who brought the plant with them. There are many modern uses for agave, and the plant is widely cultivated in warm regions where it will not be exposed to frost. Many gardeners also plant agave in low water gardens, as the succulent looks attractive and requires little water.
While many people think of agave as being a member of the cactus family, the plant is not, in fact, a cactus. It is actually more closely related to lilies, along with other succulent plants. Typically, agave grows in the form of a rosette of thick, fleshy leaves which are often toothed. The leaves may also terminate with large spikes. Many agave species flower only once, putting up a tall stalk of aromatic flowers and then dying off. Since the plants tend to grow runners and offshoots, smaller agave plants are left behind after the parent dies.
The plant is extremely slow to mature, as is demonstrated by the case of the century plant, a very slow growing agave which flowers rather intermittently. Many of the parts of the plant are highly useful, ranging from the dense leaves to the often edible flowers. As a result, large plantations of specific agave species such as blue agave can be found in the warm regions of Mexico and the American Southwest.
The leaves of agave can be beaten to make fiber, and they also generate a foamy material which is much like soap. Agave leaves can also be cooked to make a relatively bland but filling meal. The flower stalks are sweet when roasted, and one of the most commonly collected parts of the plant. With roasting and processing, a stalk can be turned into agave syrup, a natural substitute for sugar, or it can be fermented into liquor such as tequila. The flowers of agave plants are also often edible, and since each plant generates a large number of flowers, they can be a useful source of nutrition.
When used as an ornamental plant, agave can make a nice green addition to a low water garden in a warm or hot region. The slow growing plants can mature to a formidable size, which is why they are often used along highway medians and in other large landscaping schemes. The teeth and spines make agave a less than friendly plant, but this can also be advantageous in landscaping, as it will keep unwanted human and animal visitors out.
Written by S.E. Smith
