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Agave desmetiana variegata has a graceful, curved shape, the leaves are a lighter green colour with yellow variegation along the margins. Spines are minute and pliant or none existent along the margins and for the most part no dangerous (but the 1,5 cm terminal spines can be quite stinging)
 

Description: Agave desmetiana (a.k.a. Smooth agave) is a suckering succulent that forms an upright urn-shaped rosette up to 60 cm tall by 90 cm wide. It is quick growing and often produces many offsets.
Leaves: Graceful up to 50 cm long, soft, almost rubbery which curve upward and then out, the leaves of the forma variegata are bright green with yellow variegation along the margins. Spines are minute and pliant or none existent along the margins and for the most part no dangerous (but the 1,5 cm terminal spines can be quite stinging), they are reddish brown. There is some variability in the variegation depending on clones and individual.
Flowers: Pale yellow flowers, organized in a 2,5 to 3 tall panicle. They come generally on plants older than 8 years.

This Agave is one of those that will die once it blooms. The offsets provide the opportunity to have replacement plants.

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Scientific Name:  Agave desmetiana hort. ex Baker (1877) (nom. illeg.. Art. 53.1
Forma variegata

Origin: A. Desmetiana is found in cultivation only, its ancestors maybe it from Sinaloa (Mexico), maybe from Cuba

Etymology: The specific epithet honors Louis De Smet (1813-1887), a Belgian horticulturist and nurseryman - this is sometimes misspelled as desmettiana.

Synonyms:  

• Agave meridensis variegata

• Agave desmetiana marginata

• Agave mendensis
• Agave desmettiana
• Agave ananassoides
• Agave miradorensis
• Agave regeliana

It has almost rubbery leaves which curve upward and then out, with light green and cream variegation, very attractive when older.

Cultivation:  Agave desmetiana variegata  is a relatively easy-to-grow species. Seems pretty wimpy in hot, blazing sun, but does great in partial sun to shade. It is relatively cold sensitive for an Agave, Just a light freeze (-2° C) for an extended period can burn some leaves (but can survive to at least – 6°,  particularly when dry, even though portion of a mature plant can ‘melt’)... but it's too beautiful to risk not covering it on cold nights.
Need  a very well-drained, soil.   It  grows fairly fast in summer if provided with copious water but allows to dry thoroughly before watering again (the more water and fertilizer this plant gets the faster it will grow). During the winter months, one should only water enough to keep the leaves from shrivelling.
It does great in containers or in the ground. Plants cultivated outdoors are more drought tolerant and can take some heat and full sun. Winter storms and rain can damage the outdoor plants (A physiological condition called edema or oedema)
Remove suckers to show of the beauty and form of the individual rosette.

Propagation: Mostly  by suckers  which often are found growing around the base of the plant,  Remove the basal suckers (if available) in spring or summer and let the cuttings dry for a few days before inserting in compost. It may also propagate by  bulbils found on the floral stalk.

Photo of conspecific taxa, varieties, forms and cultivars of Agave desmetiana:

• Agave desmetiana cv. JOE HOAK
• Agave desmetiana forma variegata

All the information and photos in cactus art files are now available also in the new the Encyclopaedia of Succulents. We hope you find this new site informative and useful.