Agave vilmoriniana
Agave vilmoriniana
Safety & Hazards
The plant contains toxins (probably saponins) that are used to sturefy fish[1]. Many Agave species have strong, sharp spines on the leaves and leaf tips. In theory at least, the flowers, nectar, immature flowering stem and the centre of the rosette of all Agave species is edible and, with proper preparation, can provide a sweet, tasty foodstuff. Some species, however, contain relatively high levels of saponins (which makes them taste bitter) and some other compounds which can cause bellyache, and so these would only be eaten in times of desperation. In addition, many people may find these foods to be strongly laxative the first few times they eat them[2].
Cultivation Details
Agave vilmoriniana is found in semi-arid and arid regions in the tropical and subtropical climate of northern and western Mexico at elevations up to 1,850 metres. Whilst most of its range does not experience frost, plants at higher elevations (above around 1,200 metres) will often experience sharp frosts, and some plants in cultivation have been known to tolerate temperatures as low as -9°c[1]. Agave species generally require a sunny position, succeeding in most soils of medium-fertility so long as they are very well-drained. Most species are undemanding as to the soil pH, though those found in the wild on limestone soils will grow better in neutral to alkaline conditions. The plant is able to withstand prolonged drought[1]. Cultivated plants in southern California have withstood protracted drought easily and can take in water during the chilling winter rains[3]. Many of the plants growing wild on cliffs, for lack of soil, remain stunted through their lives, their maturation inhibited, and the inflorescence is feeble when at last it does appear[3]. Plants will often produce bulbils on the flowering stem[3]. Agave species are monocarpic, individual plants living for a number of years without flowering then sending up an often very large flowering stem and then dying after flowering and producing bulbils as well as setting seed. The plants of most species normally produce a number of new plants from suckers during their lifespan, but this species has never been observed to do this[3]. Individual plants take about 7 - 15 years in their native habitat, considerably longer in colder climates, before flowering[4].
Propagation
Seed - surface sow in a light position, mid spring in a warm greenhouse. The seed usually germinates in 1 - 3 months at 15 - 20°c[5, 6]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots of well-drained soil when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in a sunny position in the greenhouse until they are at least 15cm tall. Plant out at the beginning of the growing season, and give some protection from the cold for at least their first few winters[PFAF]. Offsets and suckers can be potted up at any time they are available. Keep in a warm greenhouse until they are well established[6]. Bulbils, where produced, are an easy method of propagation. Simply pot them up and plant out at the beginning of a growing season when they are 10cm or more tall. Cite as: Temperate Plants Database, Ken Fern. temperate.theferns.info. 2026-02-20. <temperate.theferns.info/plant/Agave+vilmoriniana>
Pollinators
Bees, Hummingbirds
References
- [1]IUCN Red List of Threatened Species — http://www.iucnredlist.org/ ↩︎A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
- [2]The Agaves of Baja California — Gentry H.S. · California Academy of Sciences; San Francisco · 1978 · ISBN 0068-5461 ↩︎
- [3]The Agave Family in Sonora; Agriculture Handbook No. 399 — Gentry H.S. · Agicultural Research Service, USDA; Washington D.C. · 1972 ↩︎Gives quite a lot of information on the traditional uses of the plants.
- [4]Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. — Bean. W. · Murray · 1981 · ISBN - ↩︎A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.
- [5]Growing from Seed. Volume 1. — Rice. G. (Editor) · Thompson and Morgan. · 1987 · ISBN - ↩︎Very readable magazine with lots of information on propagation.
- [6]The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. — Huxley. A. · MacMillan Press · 1992 · ISBN 0-333-47494-5 ↩︎Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
- [PFAF]Plants for a Future — pfaf.org ↩︎