In need of a low-maintenance, hardy plant that looks fantastic? 

Common Weeds Found in Perth

An architecturally striking addition to any Australian garden, Agave Desmettiana (‘smooth agave’) is a hardy, succulent species native to Mexico. It’s known for its ability to thrive in sunny, arid conditions with very little maintenance. It’s simple to plant and grow, and difficult to kill. 

Smooth agave is urn-shaped with soft, thick, spear-shaped leaves, which are bluish-green in colour, and together form a rosette. It grows up to 1m high and 1.5m wide. 

Considered an architectural plant for its distinctive and interesting look, it works well in a feature pot or planter, or as an accent piece in a garden bed or landscape. 

At Two Gloves, we often recommend agave for low-maintenance and sustainable gardens. Read on to learn a little more about this wonderful plant!

Infrequent, spectacular flowering.

One of the most notable features of the agave is its flowering. The agave is monocarpic, meaning it only flowers once in its lifetime, at the end of its life cycle at around 10-15 years, and then it dies. A thick, green, flowering stalk protrudes from the plant’s centre which can reach up to 4m in height and bears clusters of small, yellow flowers. The blooming process lasts about 4-5 months and produces an abundance of small bulbils which can be propagated into new plants. After flowering, agave will die and will need to be dug up and removed (we can help you there). 

One for the bees.

There is some misinformation about whether the agave is harmful to bees. Many owners of the plant notice a lot of ‘dead’ or ‘paralysed’ bees at the base of the plant when it flowers. It’s often assumed the pollen is poisonous; however, it’s most likely the bees become intoxicated by the pollen after ingesting large volumes. In fact, agave can be an important source of nectar for some bee species during the dry season. 

Low fuss!

Even amongst hardy plants, agave is a particularly strong survivor. Drought tolerant, minimal water needs and relatively resistant to pests and disease make it a winner for low-maintenance gardens or hard-to-reach areas. However, consider these tips to keep your agave at its healthiest: 

1. Once established, only water occasionally. (This is more important to do in hot and dry conditions.)
2. Annual feeding with a controlled-release fertiliser (although not essential).
3. Minimal pruning. When leaves die or get badly damaged, cut them off close to the base. 

Easy to plant & propagate.

Planting agave is as simple as digging a hole (in any type of soil) and placing it in. Add a small amount of compost if the soil is particularly sandy and if it’s hard or compacted, break it up to allow root penetration. When choosing a place to plant your agave, consider the following: 

• Full sun is optimal, but agave will tolerate partial shade. 
• Agave does best in well-draining soil.
• Protection from frost is a must. 

After agave flowers, the main plant dies but the bulbils produced in the process can be propagated. These bulbils that develop after flowering are essentially plantlets that can be removed and planted. Cut bulbils from the main plant and allow them to dry out and callous before planting them in a soilless medium. Wait for roots to develop (~2-3 weeks) then go ahead and plant in soil. 

An impressive survivor, Agave Desmettiana or smooth agave is one of the easiest plants to establish and maintain. It’s the ideal choice if you’re looking to keep a low-maintenance or sustainable garden. Consider the tips above for planting and caring for your agave, but enjoy a hardy plant that's minimal fuss and looks great. 

Need gardening advice?

For plant recommendations specific to your garden, consider a consult with Two Gloves. One of our experienced gardeners can help you pick out the perfect plants and offer advice on how to best take care of them. Get in touch today.