Octopus Agave
Latin Name: Agave vilmoriniana
$19.95
- Hardiness Zone: Zone 9, Zone 10, Zone 11
- Pot Size: 1 Gallon
Agave vilmoriniana forms a single open rosette of long, narrow leaves that arch outward and curl near their tips. This twisting habit gives the plant its common name, octopus agave, since a full-grown rosette looks like a creature waving its tentacles. The leaves are gray-green to yellow-green, deeply grooved, and edged with only soft roughness instead of sharp teeth. A soft point tips each leaf, making this one of the easier agaves to handle. In the wild, it clings to canyon cliffs in western Mexico, where the channeled, curving leaves guide rain straight down toward the roots.
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Plant Details
Quick Information
- Latin Name: Agave vilmoriniana
- Plant Family: Asparagaceae
- Common Names: Octopus Agave, Amole
- Origin / Native Range: Canyon cliffs of northwestern and west-central Mexico (Sonora, Sinaloa, Chihuahua, Durango, Jalisco, and neighboring states)
- Mature Height × Width: 3–4 ft × 5–6 ft
- Exposure Requirements: Full Sun to Light Shade
- Irrigation Requirements: Low
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 9–11
- Cold Hardiness: 20°F–25°F (when dry)
- Bloom Time: Spring through Summer
- Bloom Color: Yellow to Greenish-Yellow
General Information
A single plant grows as one broad, open rosette rather than a tight clump. The leaves reach about 3 feet long and are thick, slightly rough, and crescent-shaped in cross section, with a light waxy film that gives them a matte, dusty look. Octopus agave grows faster than most agaves and can fill out its full width in only a few years. Near the end of its life, it sends up a bloom stalk 10 to 16 feet tall, lined with yellow flowers. Agaves are monocarpic, meaning each rosette flowers only once and then slowly dies. Instead of leaving offsets around its base, this species lines the old stalk with bulbils, small ready-rooted plantlets that drop and take hold nearby. That way a single parent can start a whole colony of young plants before it fades.
In the wild, octopus agave clings to steep canyon cliffs, called barrancas, across western Mexico at elevations near 2,000 to 5,500 feet. Life on bare rock explains many of its habits. Its thick leaves store water for the long dry season and, like other agaves, it uses CAM photosynthesis, opening its leaf pores at night to lose less moisture in the heat. These same traits make it a low-water plant once its roots are established. It does need fast-draining ground, since standing water rots roots that evolved to grip rocky slopes. In low-desert gardens it holds better color with a little afternoon shade, and its soft, toothless leaves make it a good choice beside paths, patios, and doorways. Gardeners should know it is frost-sensitive, though: the leaves scorch in a light freeze, and hard cold below the low 20s can kill the crown.
The species also carries an unusual bit of natural chemistry. Its leaves hold one of the highest known levels of smilagenin, a natural soap-like compound called a sapogenin. In parts of Mexico, people cut and dry the leaves, then beat the fibers into a scrubbing brush that lathers on its own, which is why the plant is also known as amole, the Spanish word for a soap plant. The botanist Alwin Berger named the species in 1913 for the French plant grower Maurice de Vilmorin. One caution is worth noting: the sap can irritate skin for some people, and while the leaf tip is soft, it still comes to a point, so wash your hands after trimming and keep the tips away from eyes.
General Planting & Cultivation Information
Even drought-tolerant plants require regular watering until they are well established, good drainage is essential. If planting in containers, avoid pots without drainage holes.
Irrigate by watering deeply and then allowing the top several inches of soil to dry between waterings. This encourages the plant to send roots deep into the earth in search of moisture, helping it to become established, prevent root rot, build drought tolerance, and resilience to wind, heat, and cold.
The length of time between waterings will vary depending on your growing conditions and environment. Use a moisture meter for precise irrigation.
When planting, set the plant at the same depth as it was in its current container. For trees, ensure the top of the root flare is at soil level.
Young plants are vulnerable to harsh conditions, so consider growing them in larger containers until mature.
When planting in the ground, research the optimal planting season for your climate zone and protect young plants from frost.
To support establishment, consider creating a microclimate with nurse plants, shade, or wind protection. This can reduce stress, conserve soil moisture, and increase long-term success.
Protect the small, immature plants from rabbits and deer.
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