According to author Debra Lee Baldwin in her book, Designing With Succulents (Tiber Press, Inc.; 2007) Agave americana is also known as century plant. Why? It seems to take a century to bloom (although it produces flowers after a decade). This particular agave can ultimately grow to 10 to 15 feet tall and wide. Its leaves are long, arching and seem to be in suspended motion, like the arms of an octopus (yes, they are called arms and not tentacles).
A Mexican native, Agave americana is the ultimate low-maintenance plant. It thrives in drought conditions, poor soil and intense sun. To prevent accidents, Baldwin suggests snipping off its pointy leaf tips with gardening shears.
