Agave americana - originally CACTUS AMERICA topic

[hardwood]

I see this often in Spain, and looking at this website it looks like a few of you grow this cactus in your garden.

Is it easy and ok with the winter? Very attractive to grow at the fron of the house!

Sorry, I don't know much but I like the look of this cactus. Very different!

[Chalk Brow]

"Cactus America" is not a name I know, Googling it does not bring up any meaningful results.

Guessing wildly, could it be an opunita? or an agave, which is in fact not a cactus?

[Dave Brown]

Hi Hardwood, and welcome

The one that is most strikeing in Spain, along the coast, is Agave americana, which as Grenville said is not a Cactus, but a succulent with a rosette of leaves. True cacti don't have leaves that last, and are mainly fleshy swollen stems.

Agave americana is at the centre of this pic.

[tenchy]

dave show him the massive one in your front garden!

[hardwood]

Thank you Mr. Brown, thats the one i'm talking about.

Do you dig out your cactus before winter and bring in your house? I don't think spain gets as cold as england.

[Dave Brown]

Do you dig out your cactus before winter and bring in your house?

I dig out some cacti like the Golden Barrel which is not hardy here, and they go into the frost free polytunnel. Agave americana although not hardy here when small, develops enough cold resistance when bigger.

Large Agave are not something you would want in the house unless you move out

Tenchy the really big Agave is at my In Laws not here, and was a pup off mine

[kata]

Dave, that Ciad looks a bit yellowy,

Will it fully green up in spring?



Oh, you mean Cycad (Cycas revoluta) Yes it was... caused by cold weather and a severe attack of scale insect, but gave it a monsoon drenching last summer and it flushed well, so have a complete set of new fronds now.

Here with new flush and old fronds

Here with old fronds removed

and just to keep on topic Me with In Law's Agave americana