Agave stricta f. nana Minas Asbestos Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli
Origin and Habitat: Agave strictaSN|568]]SN|568]] is native to the Tehuacan Valley of southern Puebla and northern Oaxaca in Mexico. This selected cultivar is probably of garden origin (Nursery produced cultivar)
Synonyms:
See all synonyms of Agave stricta
Common Names include:
SPANISH (Español): Espadillo, Guapilla, Soyate, Sotolito, Espadín
Description: It is a very small and hardy agave that forms a compact spherical rosette, with many stiff, very narrow, linear leaves. Will form offshoots to create a colony of rosettes.
Rosettes: Individual rosettes with hundreds of thin leaves that grow very slowly and do not overreach 20 to 30 cm in height and width.
Leaves: Narrow, needle-like, evergreen, light blue-green or gray-green that turn red tints in sun or strong light, roundish in cross-section, toothless on the margin, typically can be to 40 inches tall but in this form are less than half of this (about 10-20 cm long); thick at the base then narrowing to end in a very sharp spine. Drier plants in full sun often get beautiful red coloration.
Flowers: When mature the flowers appear on long unbranched spikes in the fall. This species is noted as being one of the few Agave that is not monocarpic so it does not die after flowering.
Remarks: This agave looks more like a Yucca and the stem branches at the point where the inflorescence initiates and multiple rosettes form, a trait that is again, much like a Yucca.
Subspecies, varieties, forms and cultivars of plants belonging to the Agave striata complex-group
- Agave striata Zucc.: Dense, suckering rosette succulent with unique spiny pencil-like foliage, with nice spherical growth that branch profusely from the base. It very similar to Agave stricta, and can be easily confused with a Yucca.
- Agave striata var. californica (Jacobi) A.Terracc. in A.Terracc.
- Agave striata f. minima: Dwarf plant that only reach a maximum size of 15-25 cm.
- Agave stricta Salm-Dyck: Forms large individual rosettes, with hundreds of thin leaves, 30 to 100 cm in height and width. This species has the tightest spherical shape of any agave and looks like a very nasty porcupine. .
- Agave stricta f. nana Minas Asbestos: It is a very small selection that forms a compact spherical rosette, with many stiff, very narrow, glaucous-blue linear leaves. Will form offshoots to create a colony of rosettes.
- Agave stricta f. rubra hort.: (a.k.a. Red form) it has thin red longitudinal lines on the leaves. The red colouratin enhances under stress condition (drought, strong sun and cold expecially in winter)
Agave stricta f. nana Minas Asbestos Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli Agave stricta f. nana Minas Asbestos Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli Agave stricta f. nana Minas Asbestos Photo by: Cactus Art Agave stricta f. nana Minas Asbestos Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli Cultivation and Propagation: Agave strictaSN|568]]SN|568]] is a versatile and very hardy plant that can be grown in half-shade to full-sun.
Hardiness: It can take moderate to severe freezes. Agave strictaSN|568]]SN|568]] is theoretically hardy to -4° C, particularly when dry. But it is best to avoid severe freezing temperatures.
Watering: It is drought tolerant. In winter this plant can be watered once every 1-2 months. There is no need to mist the leaves.
Heat Tolerance: Excellent.
Propagation: Relatively easy to propagate by suckers (if available). Remove the basal suckers in spring or summer, and let the cuttings dry for a few days before inserting in compost.