Variegated Century Plant

Agave americana 'Marginata', the variegated century plant, forms a large evergreen rosette of stiff gray-green leaves edged in yellow. Its bold striped foliage makes a strong architectural accent in spacious, sunny landscapes; the leaf tips and margins are sharply spined. ## Garden Use and Scale The Royal Horticultural Society describes this cultivar as an evergreen rosette with yellow-margined leaves and lists it at 1–1.5 metres tall and wide. University of Florida IFAS describes variegated century plant as a much larger landscape specimen, listing 6–10 feet in both height and spread. Size therefore varies with growing conditions and age; allow generous room and retain the sharp leaves well away from paths and play areas. ## Siting Choose full sun and sharply drained soil. Loam or sand is suitable, but permanently wet soil can cause root problems. Once established, this agave needs little irrigation and is drought tolerant. It is often grown in a large container where winter protection or drainage can be controlled. Mature plants can send up a tall, branched flower stalk, then the flowering rosette dies; pups may grow around its base. ## Maintenance Remove pups only when they need to be relocated or the clump is outgrowing its space. Use care when handling the spiny foliage, and wear protective equipment for cutting or transplanting. [RHS](https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/92322/agave-americana-marginata-v/details) · [UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions](https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/ornamentals/century-plant/)