Agave americana is handsome desert plant used in tubs and ornamental pots. With a spreading rosette that can grow up to 4m wide, the grey-green leaves grow up to 2 metres (6ft) long, each with a spiny creamy-yellow margin and a heavy spike at the tip. The leaves are tightly packed and often leave impressions of the leaf margins as the leaves unfurl.

It can take over ten years to flower, the cyme of large yellow flowers, may reach up to 8 meters (25 ft.), upon eventual production of fruit, the entire plant begins to senesce. The plant is monocarpic and dies after flowering, but produces suckers or adventitious shoots from the base, which continue its growth. The average life-span is around 25 years.

If the flower stem is cut without flowering, a sweet liquid called agua miel ("honey water") gathers in the heart of the plant. This may be fermented to produce the drink called pulque, which may then be distilled to produce mezcal. The leaves also yield fibres, known as pita, which are suitable for making rope, matting, coarse cloth and are used for embroidery of leather in a technique known as piteado. Both pulque and maguey fibre were important to the economy of pre-Columbian Mexico. Production continues today to a much lesser extent. Agave syrup (also called agave nectar) has recently been marketed as a healthful natural sugar substitute.

In 2003 Agave americana var. marginata was awarded the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit.

Sowing: Sow indoors at any time of year.
Fill small pots or trays with a light and well-aerated compost. (John Innes Seed Compost, with the addition of ½ gritty sand is an old favourite) Do not firm the mixture down. Stand the pots in water, moisten thoroughly and drain. It is a good plan to stand the containers on a tray of damp sand, so that they do not dry out. Scatter the seed onto the top of the compost or, if the seed is larger, sow individually and press lightly into the compost. Do not cover small seeds with compost. Secure a polythene bag around the pot or cover the container with glass or and place in a warm shaded place. If possible, germinate in a propagator. Care should be taken to prevent the pots drying out from below. Many people make use of a warm place such as the airing cupboard, or near the kitchen boiler.
The majority of seeds germinate best at a temperatures of 22 to 24°C (70 to 75°F). Some seedlings may appear within a week or 10 days others will take longer. At lower temperatures, germination usually takes considerably longer.

Germination:
Once germination has taken place, remove the glass or plastic and move into a good light. Be careful to keep the top of the compost damp. As soon as the first seeds have germinated, remove the plastic or lid to permit some circulation of air. From now on, the tiny seedlings need to be in a good light, but must be protected from direct sun. Shade from all but winter sun is for the first 12 months. If the young plants are exposed to too much sun, or the compost dries out, they may stop growing and often turn red; once they stop, it is often difficult to persuade them to start growing again.
After germination and at intervals of about 10 days, it is as well to spray with a fungicide. It is as well to continue this treatment for 8 to 10 weeks, or until the seedlings look like miniature agave. Never let the pots dry out-but don't saturate them either. A sodden compost is as harmful as a dry one.

Transplanting:
Prick out when the seedlings are large enough to handle. Agaves prefer rich and very free draining compost. Keep at a minimum of 16°C (60°F) during their first winter and water carefully. Grow in bright sun as strong sunlight will encourage the full colours of the leaves to develop.

Cultivation:
The plant requires light and well-drained soil and can tolerate drought. It cannot grow in the shade. They should be kept almost dry during the winter months, only water them to prevent the roots from completely drying out, once a month should be fine. They are best grown in an unglazed terracotta pot with at least one drainage hole in the base. Repot the plant every two or three years - wrap the rosette in newspaper to prevent yourself from being stabbed! Offsets can be potted up at any time they are available. Keep in a warm greenhouse until they are well established.

Taxonomy:
At one point agaves were placed among the Liliaceae, but now Agave and related forms have been placed in the family Agavaceae.
Many Agave species have the common name of century plant, somewhat implying that the plants live for a hundred years, a few decades is more the norm.
Cultivated varieties of Agave americana include 'marginata' with yellow stripes along the margins of each leaf, 'medio-picta' with a central white band, 'striata' with multiple yellow to white stripes along the leaves, and 'variegata' with white edges on the leaves.

Of Interest:
Plants of the genus agave generally are thought of as perennial because it takes more than one growing season to complete, but they are better considered as multiannuals since most of them bloom only once during the lifetime of the plant.
Most agaves are monocarpic, which means that the plants flower, set seeds and then die. (Other terms with the same meaning are hapaxanth and semelparous.) There are only a very few species of agave that are polycarpic, these blooming repeatedly through the life of the plant.