Agave xylonacantha explained

Agave xylonacantha is a plant species native to Hidalgo, Tamaulipas, Guanajuato and Queretaro in Mexico, but commonly cultivated as an ornamental on other regions. A. xylonacantha is an easy-to-grow member of the genus Agave.^[1] The specific epithet xylonacantha' means "wood spines".^[2]

Description

Agave xylonacantha produces a basal rosette of up to 180 cm (6 feet) in diameter. Leaves are sword-shaped, up to 90 cm (3 feet) long and 7.5 cm (3 inches) across, each ending in a spine about 4– 5 cm (1.6-2 inches) long. Margins of the leaves have spines up to 3 cm (1.2 inches) across. This gives the margins an undulating appearance. Flowering stalks can reach a height of 3.3 m (11 feet). Flowers are up to 3.5 cm (1.5 inches) in diameter with greenish tepals.^{[3] [4] [5]}

Cultivars include:

• 'Frostbite': the leaf's edges are a creamy yellow^[6]
• 'Blue': the leaves are blue-green^[7]

Notes and References

1. Complete Encyclopedia of Succulents by Zdenek Jezek and Libor Kunte
2. Web site: Agave xylonacantha, Saw Leaf Agave, Succulent, [Agave carchariodonta]]. 2021-05-05. www.smgrowers.com.
3. Bailey, L.H. & E.Z. Bailey. 1976. Hortus Third i–xiv, 1–1290. MacMillan, New York.
4. CONABIO. 2009. Catálogo taxonómico de especies de México. 1. In Capital Nat. México. CONABIO, Mexico City.
5. Gentry, H. S. 1982. Agaves of Continental North America i–xiv, 1–670. The University of Arizona Press, Tucson.
6. Web site: Agave xylonacantha 'Frostbite' Walters Gardens, Inc.. 2021-05-05. www.waltersgardens.com.
7. Web site: Agave Xylonacantha 'Blue'. 2021-05-05. www.succseed.com.