Accession Count: 3
Common Name:
Palmer's agave
Family Name:
Asparagaceae
Botanical Name:
Agave palmeri
Sub Species:
Variety:
Forma:
Cultivar:
Characteristics:
Palmer's agave is a large perennial succulent with sword-like, upright leaves arising from a solitary rosette (2,5,6). This succulent can grow to 4 feet tall (3). The leaves are a glaucous green-grey color, sometimes having a slightly red hue (2,3,6). The leaves are 1-4” long and 1-7” wide, and armored, possessing teeth-like serrations along the leaf margin as well as a spined apex measuring 2.25” long (2,3,5,6) This plant produces an enormous inflorescence capable of reaching a height of 13-20 feet tall (2,3,7,8). The stalk is thick, with a glaucous-green color and subtle purple tint (2,3). It grows up to 20 feet tall at maturity and produces the inflorescence on the top half. The inflorescence is paniculate, composed of 11-26 lateral umbel branchlets (2,3,5). The umbels are densely packed, consisting of 8-16 erect peduncles with a reddish/purple coloration when flower buds form (2,3,5,6). Flowers are 1.5-2” long (5) The flowers have a pale yellow-green color, and exude a strong, sour, musky fragrance (2,3,5). This plant is monocarpic and will perish once it has flowered and set fruit (3,7,8). Palmers’ agave rarely produces offsets (2,6). The fruits are capsules approximately 1.5-2.5” in length, 0.75” in width (2,6). The capsule contains many thin black seeds, each measuring 0.25” long and 0.20” wide (2,6).
Compound:
Aga pal
Geographic Origin:
Ecozone Origin:
Nearctic
Biome Origin:
Southwestern United States and Sonora, Mexico
Natural History:
Palmer's agave is native to New Mexico, Arizona, western Texas, and northern Mexico (3,5,6,7). This plant is commonly found growing on dry, rocky, open slopes at elevations of 3500-7500 feet (2,3,5,6). This plant is the largest species of Agave naturally occurring in the United States (5).
Cultivation Notes:
Palmer’s
agave prefers full sun to thrive but will tolerate part shade (3,8). This plant
is highly drought tolerant and has very low watering needs (3,8). This plant is
tolerant of a wide range of soils (8). Palmer’s agave is also very cold
tolerant, withstanding temperatures as low as 12 degrees Fahrenheit (8). The
flower stalk begins to emerge in April and blooms develop in the summer (3,5,7).
This plant is very slow growing and has a long life of 5-25 years (7).
Ethnobotany:
Palmer's agave is an ideal plant for landscaping, as the regular shape of the rosettes makes the species a good focal point or specimen plant on patios or in perennial gardens. Local wildlife benefit from this agave, as it provides shelter, its nectar attracts hummingbirds, and it is the larval host of the Arizona giant-skipper butterfly (3,8). This plant is a crucial food source for many nectar-feeding migratory bats, including the lesser long-nosed bat or Leptonycteris curasoe (7,8). This plant has had great value among the Indigenous People of North America, being used extensively for food, drink, fiber for weaving, soap, and medicinal uses (3).
Height:
0 - 5 feet
Width:
0 - 5 feet
Growth Rate:
Slow Growing
Grow Season:
ForeSummer
Flower Season:
Summer
Color:
Yellow
Function:
Accent
Spread:
Non-spreading
Allergen:
Non-allergenic
Invasive:
Benign
Toxicity:
Benign
Hardy:
Semi-hardy
Water Use:
Low water Use
Citations:
1) Irish, Gary, and Mary F Irish. Agaves, Yuccas, and
Related Plants: A Gardener's Guide. 1st ed., Timber Press
Incorporated, 2000.
