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Agave potatorum (A. verschaffeltii)
This species is highly ornamental but quite variable in
form, the with
sinuous leaf margins and with teeth atop of outward-projecting bumps are
often called by the old name of Agave verschaffeltii.
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Description: A.
potatorum is a small
Agave, growing
solitary or slowly
clumping, that forms an open symmetrical
succulent rosette, up to 60 cm tall, 60 m in diameter. But the size of
the plant from different population and the clones on the market are
quite variable and may be anywhere between 10 and 90 cm in diameter when
fully grown-up.
Leaves: Blue-grey to silvery-grey, broad, 25-40 cm long, slightly
deflexed back near the tips that terminate in a distinctive, often
twisted or slightly wavy, reddish, yellowish or dark brown spine up to
2,5 long. The short marginal spines are on pronounced tubercle-like
prominences. The leaves also have distinct showy bud-imprints.
Flowers: Long spikes that rise up to 3 to 5 m bearing light green
flowers tinged with red and subtended with red bracts
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Family: Agavaceae
Scientific Name: Agave potatorum Zucc.
Synonyms:
- Agave potatorum var. verschaffeltii A. Berger 1915
- Agave verschaffletii
Origin: Mexico, occurs from southern Pueblo
state down to central Oaxaca and Chiapas, and is quite variable.
Habitat: Semi-arid highlands between 1200 and 2200 m
Etymology: The specific name "potatorum" has
nothing to do with potatoes, it comes from the genitive of the Latin
word "potator" meaning 'of the drinkers' in
reference to the use of this plant in making alcoholic beverages.
Agave potatorum is included in the
group Hiemiflorae. As a general rule, plants in this group have
relatively short lateral branches on the inflorescence and tight
ball-like clusters of flowers. They typically are winter-flowering,
although Agave potatorum is a little earlier than most,
with a September-to-December
peak flowering time.
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A. The leaves have distinct showy bud-imprints.
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Plant with sinuous leaf
margins and with teeth atop of outward-projecting bumps are often called
by the old name of Agave verschaffeltii.
Cultivation: Agave
potatorum is a relatively easy-to-grow species, though not as
cold-hardy as many of the more northerly-occurring species (Winter hardy
to around -3° C degrees). Suited for
light shade to
full sun, but better with some shade in
summer. It needs
a very well-drained, soil. It grows fairly fast in
summer if provided with copious water, but allow
to dry thoroughly before watering again (the more water and fertilizer
this plant gets, the faster it will grow). During
the winter months, one should only water enough to keep the leaves from
shrivelling.
It does great in containers or in the ground. Plants cultivated
outdoors are more drought tolerant and can take some heat and full sun.
Remove eventual suckers to show the beauty and form of the individual
rosette.
Propagation: By seeds or by
suckers that are found growing around the base of the plant, however
this species rarely offsets many plants after maturing,. This begins to
occur when they are as young as 10 years old. They will flower (usually
during the autumn) and the entire plant declines and dies. But many of
the clones actually in cultivation are more prolific, and suckers are
readily available. The basal suckers can be removed in spring or summer,
letting the cuttings dry for a few days before inserting in compost.
Photo of conspecific taxa, varieties, forms and cultivars of
Agave potatorum:
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Cultivation and
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