Agave filifera

The Agave filifera is a miniature cousin of the monumental Agave from Mexico, whose rosette does not exceed 50 cm (19.7in) in all directions. It owes its species name, filifera, to the long filaments that border its narrow leaves. The originality of this small development of the species also comes from the particular construction of its rosette of leaves: dense and radiating, almost hemispherical, it is composed of leaves arched in the same direction that give a very beautiful impression of movement. It is also a well-armed agave, equipped with sharp points to be wary of. The flowering is a beautiful surprise, emerging from the heart of the oldest rosettes, in the form of majestic floral spikes carrying panicles of yellow-green flowers. Agaves naturally structure exotic and wild landscapes, in the ground in mild climates, but also in large pots to be protected in winter in all regions.

Native to the vast area west of Mexico, the Agave filifera is primarily a botanical species adapted to mountainous and semi-desert climates. This botanical species is found in the foothills of the Sierra Madre Occidental in the centre of the state of Sonora, famous for its desert, as well as at altitudes between 1500m (4921.3ft) and 2200m (7217.8ft) north of the state of Sonaloa. It belongs to the agave family, just like Yuccas or Tuberose. This succulent perennial plant has rhizomes capable of producing suckers, but it is almost devoid of aerial stems. It is composed of succulent triangular, narrow, elongated leaves, dark green to yellowish-green, slightly curved upwards. They show white lines, which are marks printed by the waxy white margins of neighbouring leaves. These margins do not bear spines, but disintegrate into long whitish filaments. Each leaf is equipped with a grey terminal spine, 1 to 2cm (0.8in) long. The leaves located at the heart of the rosette often have margins tinted with red-orange. When a rosette reaches the venerable age of 15 to 20 years or more, it produces a floral spike reaching 1.5 to 2m (6.6ft) in height bearing many horizontal branches. The branches bear flattened and spherical panicles, composed of a myriad of small yellow-green tubular flowers. The rosette, called semelparous, dies after flowering, which lasts several months, having produced many small peripheral rosettes to ensure its reproduction.

In mild climates, this agave will find its place in a large rockery, on an arid slope, or in a raised bed whose soil has been enriched with gravel or coarse sand. It can be grouped with frost-resistant prickly pears such as Opuntia humifusa Millevaches, the giant fennel, hardy candle cacti (Cleistocactus strausii, Cylindropuntia imbricata), and ground-cover plants like dwarf artemisias, Rhodanthemum, Ajania pacifia. Gardeners in colder regions can plant it in a very large pot on the terrace, carefully choosing the most sheltered spot in full sun. This hardy plant, down to about -12°C (10.4F) in well-drained soil, can become invasive where it thrives.

The Agave is also an edible plant, used in Mexico to make mescal, an alcoholic beverage obtained by fermenting its juice rich in sugars. It is also used in traditional medicine in Mexico, Brazil, and India, and has proven antifungal properties. Very attractive to bees and nectar-feeding insects, the inflorescences attract many pollinators.