Swan's neck agave is a species of agave sometimes known as the "lion's tail",
"foxtail", “elephant’s trunk”, for its development of a curved stem, unusual
among agaves. Native to the plateau of central Mexico, as one of the unarmed
agaves, it is popular as an ornamental plant in gardens. The stems typically
range from 50-150 cm in length, and eventually old leaves fall off, leaving
them naked and visible. The plants have a large rosette of thick fleshy leaves
generally ending in a sharp point. It may take up to 10 years to bloom.
Swan’s neck agave's flower spike is a thing of wonder, and will either produce
greenish-yellow flowers or thousands of small plantlets, on its' entire
length. Each plant stalk blooms only once. Unlike other members of it's family
this plant doesn't die after flowering.
Agave attenuata are best propagated by digging pups produced at the base of
older plants and seeds germinate readily when they are fresh.
Identification credit: Swati Kale
Photographed in cultivation in Pune & Imphal.
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The flower labeled Swan's Neck Agave is ...