Agave schottii
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Agave shottii is a very small agave reaching less than 18″ in diameter, with unusual white curly threads that come peeling off the leaves. Agave schotii is an excellent choice in native landscapes and borders, rock gardens, cactus gardens and xeriscape plantings and low barrier plantings. Leaves are stiff and sharp, so take special care to locate it away from foot traffic. Easily offshoots to form colonies. Suitable for building soil where erosion is a problem. It helps to collect leaves and debris and consolidates soil. It is deer and rodent resistant.
Agave schotii is reminiscent of a yucca in form. The leaves form a basal rosette and are green to yellow-green in color, tipped with a sharp spine, and have slender, curling fibers at the margins. Agave schottii is different from many agaves in that the leaves do not have spines on their edges, which places it in the Agave subgenus Littaea. Its leaves typically grow to a length of about 1 foot. The plants die after sending up a 9 foot unbranched flower spike with pleasantly scented, yellow-green flowers.
This agave is bitter tasting and was not used for food by native Americans. Instead, it was used in making soap called “amole”, “maguey”, and “amolillo”. The plant often grows with grasses which hide its spiky leaves – hence the name ‘shin dagger’ given it by hikers.
Agave schotti is now rare in its native U.S. habitats and is protected from collection there.
Horticultural Data
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Names and Synonyms: Agave schottii var. schottii
Common Names: Schott’s Century Plant, Shin Dagger, Amole, Amolillo
Family: Agavaceae
Origin: This plant originates in Arizona, New Mexico and northern Mexico at elevations between 3,500 and 6,000 feet and often grows on north and eastern facing slopes
Size Label: 1 Gallon
Mature Size: individual rosette
Height: up to 18″
Width: 1-2′
Cold Tolerance: 5 to 10°F, -15 to -12.2°C
Heat Tolerance: Very high
Light Requirement: Part to full sun
Water needs: Very drought tolerant
Maintenance: Remove spent rosettes after flowering if desired
Uses: Native landscapes and borders, rock gardens, cactus gardens, xeriscape plantings and low barrier plantings. This plant has very spiny leaves, so take special care to locate it away from foot traffic. Easily offshoots to form colonies. It is deer and rodent resistant.
Propagation: Plant sends out offshoots which can be removed and replanted. Seeds can be obtained after flowering.
Special notes: This agave is reminiscent of a yucca in form. The leaves form a basal rosette and are green to yellow-green in color, tipped with a sharp spine, and have slender, curling fibers at the margins. Agave schottii is different from many agaves in that the leaves do not have spines on their edges, which places it in the Agave subgenus Littaea. Its leaves typically grow to a length of about 1 foot. The plants die after sending up a 9 foot unbranched flower spike with pleasantly scented, yellow-green flowers. Agave schotti is now rare in its native U.S. habitats and is protected from collection there. This agave is bitter tasting and was not used for food by native Americans, instead as soap called “amole”, “maguey”, and “amolillo”. The plant often grows with grasses which hide its spiky leaves – hence the name ‘shin dagger’ given it by hikers.
Research Links:
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/fp.php?pid=990528
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/71306/
schotthttp://www.fireflyforest.com/flowers/70/agave-schottii-s-century-plant/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agave_schottii
Shipping & Availability
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There is a minimum purchase of any 4 plants for online orders. All plants shipped bare root. Other sizes may be available for pick up from our growing grounds in Fallbrook, CA. For more information, give us a call at 760-990-4762.
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