Agave americana f. medio-picta alba

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Since 4 Aug 2013

Agave americana f. medio-picta alba

Family: AGAVACEAE

Agave americana 'Mediopicta Alba'
It is one of the prettiest and most sought after variegated succulents in existence. It is a living sculpture with very dramatic leaves, the juxtaposition of the solid creamy white bands down the centre with the powder blue of margins in a neat rosette looks right to the eye.

Origin and Habitat: Garden form known only in cultivation.

Synonyms:

Agave americana f. medio-picta alba

See all synonyms of Agave americana

Common Names include:
ARABIC ( لعربية ): أغاف أمريكي
PERSIAN (فارسی): آگاوه امریکانا

Description: Solitary or slowly clumping succulent rosette that will grow to a height of 70-90(-120) cm.
The var. medio-picta 'Alba' is a medium to smaller growing form of Agave americanaSN|162]]SN|162]].
Leaves: Short, lanceolate, narrowed above the thickened base, that arch slightly above the middle of the lamina and this is a characteristic feature of this species. The leaves of this cultivar are pleasantly variegated with a greyish-white to creamy-white central broad band down the centre of each leaf, with grey-blue sharp-spined edges and a long terminal spine.
Flowers: Inflorescence up to 5 m tall (or more) slender, straight, long oval in outline and rather open. The individual flowers are yellow-green and attract hummingbirds. Flower spikes are also variegated.
Blooming season: Summer, however in warmer climates the Century Plant doesn't bloom until it is a decade old and not a century! (up to 35 years or more in cool climates) and the plant dies after flowering.

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Subspecies, varieties, forms and cultivars of plants belonging to the Agave americana group

Agave americana L.: Solitary or slowly clumping grey-blue rosette up to 4 m wide up to 150-200 cm tall. The leaves are often refexed above the middle. Cultivated worldwide with several different variety.
Agave americana f. aureo-marginata hort.: Variegated cultivar with yellow stripes along the margins of each leaf.
Agave americana var. expansa (Jacobi) Gentry: has a short trunk up to 60 cm tall with grey-glaucous cross zoned leaves.
Agave americana f. medio-picta alba: Variegated cultivar with a broad white band down the centre of each leaf.
Agave americana var. oaxacensis Gentry: Has very large glaucous-white leaves with nearly straight margins. Leaves never reflexed. Cultivated form mainly in Oaxaca Valley.
Agave americana var. picta (Salm-Dyck) A.Terracc.: The name "picta" has been variously used to indicate a number of varieties, segregated largely on the basis of the yellow or whitish striations. This variegated forms are inconstant in their colour patterns.
Agave americana subs. protamericana Gentry: Regarded as the wild progenitor of the cultivated Agave americana differs in its greater variability in form, spination and colour of the leaves which generally are shorter, compact and wider.
Agave americana subs. protamericana cv. Blue Steel: has beautiful steel-blue, tight, upright, leaves with wider blade than some clones.
Agave americana var. striata Trel. in L.H.Bailey: Variegated cultivar with multiple yellow to white stripes along the leaves.
Agave cv. Cornelius: small monstrous and strongly variegated form with gorgeous wide creamy-yellow margins on blue-green undulating spidery foliage.

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Cv mediopicta habit at Enchanting Floral Gardens of Kula, Maui, Hawaii, USA. October 24, 2007. Photo by: Forest Starr & Kim Starr

It is among the most architectural and beautiful of succulents. Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli

Agave americana f. medio-picta alba Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli

It remains smaller than most of the variegated A. americana. Photo by: Cactus Art

Agave americana f. medio-picta alba Photo by: Cactus Art

Agave americana f. medio-picta alba Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli

Agave americana f. medio-picta alba Photo by: Cactus Art

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The gallery now contains thousands of pictures, however it is possible to do even more. We are, of course, seeking photos of species not yet shown in the gallery but not only that, we are also looking for better pictures than those already present. Read More...

Cultivation and Propagation: This is a very popular cultivar but it is relatively slow to grow and propagate, it tends to do less well than the standard blue-grey species plant, hence the price. They do well in full sun or a lightly shaded area.
In winter watering this plant can be done once every 1-2 months. There is no need to mist the leaves. Agave americanaSN|162]]SN|162]] is theoretically hardy to -9° C , particularly when dry ,but this cultivar is more tender, and it is best to avoid severe freezing temperatures. Use extreme care when working around or trimming any Agave. Not only are the spines wicked and cause a painful swelling if one is poked, but the sap is somehow caustic.

Propagation:: Exclusively by suckers Remove the basal suckers (if available) in spring or summer and let the cuttings dry for a few days before inserting in compost.

Uses: These striking plants are wonderful when used for accent, or simply to provide some all year round foliage colour. They are often used in a pot as patio plants, and make an eye-catching statement. Along with other evergreen plants in pots, they can be moved around to change the scenery, or positioned to give more shelter. This is a large dramatic plant that enjoy plenty of room, preferably situated away from traffic. Good on a hillside. This is a very pretty Agave.

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Cite this page: "Agave americana f. medio-picta alba" Text available under a CC-BY-SA Creative Commons Attribution License. www.llifle.com 14 Nov. 2005. 09 Apr 2025. </Encyclopedia/SUCCULENTS/Family/Agavaceae/166/Agave_americana_f._medio-picta_alba>