Description

General aspect and origins - Agave sisalana is a succulent which is native to Eastern Mexico. There, it is still cultivated for its fibers that are extracted from the leaves. These fibers (and by extension the whole plant) are named sisal. This agave can be up to 6 ft (2 m) tall and 8 ft (about 2.5 m) wide.
Leaves - this plant has large lanceolate leaves with thick points, sharp tips and generally smooth margins. Foliage is blue-green, and forms basal rosettes. Each leave can be up to 5 ft (about 1.5 m) long.
Flowers - This plant produces a long spike that can reach 20 ft (6 m) and that bears many urceolate yellow-green flowers. It takes this agave about 7 to 8 years to bloom.

Culture

Soil - This plant likes well-drained and slightly acidic soils.

Propagation

This plant is propagated by seeds (spring) or by offset division (spring, fall). Moreover, this plant produces bulbils on the spike after flowering.