Amazing Agaves

The agave got its nickname "century plant" because it was said that they bloom once every 100 years then die, says a local expert.

"That may be true for some agaves, but some types bloom much more frequently," said Karen Reichhardt, a botanist with the Bureau of Land Management Yuma Field Office.

Octopus agaves, for example, may bloom about every 15 years in the wild, she said. But at Huntington Botanical Gardens in Pasadena, Calif., they bloom about every seven or eight years, she said. (Octopus agaves are frequently used in local landscapes, including near Yuma City Hall.)

Some types of agave live longer, including those that bloom about every 100 years, said Reichhardt. Agaves are monocarps, which means they only bloom and fruit once then die, she said.

Tequila crop

Agaves have been just as important to agriculture in continental North America as other crops, Reichhardt said. Blue agaves, which have long been cultivated in milder climates, are used to make tequila and other alcoholic beverages, she said.

When the flowering stalk begins pushing up the plant, the plant fills up with sugars in order to push the stalk up, Reichhardt said.

"When the plant is really sweet, they dig them up from the roots, cut the leaves off and carve out the center. The heart looks like pineapple and it‘s loaded with sugar. They take out the sweet liquid and ferment it. It is used to make tequilas and other fermented drinks, like mescal and pulque."

In Mexico, agave centers are also roasted and served in market places, she said. "It tastes like brown sugar." But the fiber is tough, so a person must chew on a small piece of roasted agave to get the sweet taste, then throw the fiber away.

Yuma landscape plants

Agaves have low maintenance and water requirements, Reichhardt said. Though the types that thrive in more temperate climates would become easily sunburned and stunted in Yuma, other types will grow well here, she said. "As long as they came from Arizona, they can be planted in Yuma. Arizona agaves are more arid adapted and come from the high desert."

Agaves are succulent plants that are protected in Arizona by the Arizona Native Plant Law, she said.

Helen McGee, co-owner of McGee Cactus Nursery in the Foothills, said people cannot collect agaves from the wild without first obtaining a permit from the Arizona Department of Agriculture.

Plus, they do not grow wild in the Yuma area, she said. But they are available at local nurseries for about $6 and up, depending on the size and type.

McGee recommends planting the variegated century plant, which has some yellow strips. Santa Rita agaves, which are purple, and octopus agaves are also popular with local homeowners, she said.

Reichhardt said it's best to plant agaves in desert landscapes in the fall or spring. And it's important to let their roots dry out before planting, to prevent root rot.

Agaves take full sun and need well-drained soil, Reichhardt said. "The sandy soils here are perfect."

They can be planted in the ground or in pots. But if they are kept in pots too long, they can become root bound. So it's best to transplant them in landscapes with drip irrigation or frequent hose irrigations, she said.

Plant them deep, and firm the soil around them with water, she said. Water them about once a week until they're established. Once established, agaves only need about one to two irrigations per month and none during cold weather, she said.

They can be grown with succulents or low-water-use shrubs, but they should be set farther away from plants that require more water, she said.

Although some people prune their agave leaves, it really isn't necessary, she said. "They're very low maintenance. You just need to give them room to grow."

Pups and seeds

If agaves have pollinators that are local to the desert, such as bats, the stalks will develop seeds, she said. If an agave is pollinated and sets out seeds, they can be planted, she said.

But if agaves have no pollinators, they produce pups (baby agaves) on the flower heads instead of seeds. In the wild, when the stalks fall over, the pups can take root and grow.

Likewise, agave pups can be planted in landscapes, she said. However, she recommends starting them in pots kept in filtered shade. "When they are a few inches tall, they'll be strong enough to transplant in the landscape."

The agave may also form offshoots at the roots. The offshoots can be severed from the main plant and set out in the landscape, Reichhardt said.

McGee Cactus Nursery is located at 9256 South Frontage Road, and the number is 342-1810.