The Arid House.

This site is dedicated the Agave, a genera that has much to offer collectors due to the many leaf forms and growth habits.   Some of these plants can grow to huge proportions in their natural habitat or where they can be grown outdoor throughout the year.   In many Mediterranean countries the plants make good garden specimens.  In other locations with a less favourable climate, modest specimens can be grown in a greenhouse.

The Arid House site has images of actual plants in my collection based in the UK and of those seen in other collections that have caught my eye.

Agave Guadalajarana seen at Eau Brink Cacti.

Agaves cultivated in captivity can be difficult to identify because there are many intermediate forms between various agaves as well as many hybrid forms. It is not always possible to place a specimen in a specific category as defined by Gentry et. al. In captivity plants grown in pots under conditions far removed from their natural habitat, can exhibit variations in growth habit and leaf form.

The size of rosettes can vary from a few cm up to 2-3m across. The smaller forms and in particular those displaying varigation, are much sought after by collectors.

Victoria Reginae flower spike seen at Eau Brink Cacti.

Agaves are monocots, and flower from the central growing point. After flowering, the rosette dies. Agaves reproduce by seed,bulbils and by suckers or pups.

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