Agave parrasana, the cabbage head agave or cabbage head century plant,[3] is a flowering plant in the family Asparagaceae.[4] A slow-growing evergreen succulent from North East Mexico, it produces a compact rosette of fleshy thorn-tipped grey-green leaves, 60 cm tall and wide. The leaves are blue green and the thorns are red. The whole plant may reach 100 centimeters tall and wide.[5] Occasionally, mature plants produce a spectacular flower head up to 6m tall, opening red and turning yellow.[6] This signals the death of the flowering rosette. However, offsets may form and continue growing.
| Agave parrasana | |
|---|---|
| |
| Kew Gardens, August 2005 (Bluemoose) | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Asparagaceae |
| Subfamily: | Agavoideae |
| Genus: | Agave |
| Species: | A. parrasana
|
| Binomial name | |
| Agave parrasana | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Agave wislizeni subsp. parrasana | |
As it can tolerate temperatures of −12 °C (10 °F) or less, it is a popular plant to grow outdoors in a sheltered cactus garden or similar environment, and has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[7] In the US, it may be grown outdoors in USDA hardiness zones 7–10. It is susceptible to scale and chlorosis resulting from magnesium deficiency.[8]
References edit
- ^ González-Elizondo, M.; Hernández Sandoval, L.; Zamudio, S.; Hernández-Martínez, M.; Sánchez, E.; Matías-Palafox, M. (2019). "Agave parrasana". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T115689579A116354278. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T115689579A116354278.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
- ^ "Agave parrasana". The Plant List. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
- ^ "Agave parrasana (cabbage head agave)". gardenia.net. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
- ^ "Agave parrasana A.Berger". Plants of the World Online. The Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. n.d. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
- ^ "Agave parrasana". BBC Gardeners' World Magazine. Retrieved 2021-04-28.
- ^ "Agave parrasana". www.public.asu.edu. Retrieved 2021-04-28.
- ^ "Agave parrasana". Royal Horticultural Society. 2012. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
- ^ Shoot. "Agave parrasana Cabbage head Cabbage head century plant wislizenii Care Plant Varieties & Pruning Advice". www.shootgardening.co.uk. Retrieved 2021-04-28.