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Century Plant

Century Plant
Photo: Doug Bickerton, SA Department for Environment & Heritage
Invasive Plant
Century Plant
Agave americana
 

Perennial succulent with thick grey green sword shaped leaves in rosettes growing to 2m high and often forming clumps that are several metres wide. The leaves have teeth along the margins and a very sharp spine at the tip. Yellow flowers form on a large spike which can rise over 5m in height.

 

HOW IT SPREADS

  • This plant forms thick clusters as the main plant 'suckers' to produce many new plants.
  • Plants that are dumped in garden waste readily take root and colonise natural areas.
 
 
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Other superior selections include;

  • Zamia furfuracea - Cardboard Palm
  • Encephalartos ferox - Zululand Cycad

Ask your local retailer for more superior selections

 

Alternative Plants

Bromeliad
Photo: Macbird Floraprint
Alternative Plant Bromeliad
Aechmea species
Trees and Shrubs
 

Extremely tough and hardy Bromeliad that makes an ideal specimen plant. It has reddish yellow foliage and is able to tolerate almost direct sunlight. It can reach 1.5m-2.0m in height. Striking flower spike with gold flowers with huge red bracts which last for many months.

Spineless Agave
Photo: Macbird Floraprint
Alternative Plant Spineless Agave
Agave attenuata
Succulent Plants
 

This spineless Agave has a thick stem and can reach 1.5m in height. A rosette of thick yet softly textured blue green leaves forms at the crown. Small 'pups' develop to the side of established stems allowing the plant to form thick clumps. This vegetative spread makes them somewhat easier to manage.

Swamp Lily
Photo: Lorna Rose
Alternative Plant Swamp Lily
Crinum pedunculatum
Trees and Shrubs
 

Robust clumping plant with thick leathery leaves which will grow in heavy water laden soils, saline situations and even the seashore. In spring and summer it produces several stout flowering stems with large clusters of thinly petalled white lily type flowers.

 
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