Agave filifera Salm-Dyck

Common name(s): Thread Agave, Thread Leaf Agave

Family: Asparagaceae (Agavaceae) Synonym(s): Agave filamentosa Salm-Dyck, Agave pseudofilifera H. Ross & Lanza, Bonapartea filamentosa Salm-Dyck, Boucen.
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Plant
Plant
Taken by Ken Harrington on 6th January, 2020 at Brisbane Botanic Gardens, Queensland
Leaf_front
Leaf (Front)
Taken by Ken Harrington
Inflorescence
Inflorescence
Taken by Unkown
Flower
Flowers
Taken by Unkown
Plant
Plant
Taken by Valentino Vallicelli
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Cacti, Succulents, & Allies Properties
Origin(s)
Mexico
  • Guanajuato: Indigenous
  • Hidalgo: Indigenous
  • Puebla: Indigenous
Plant Type
Succulent, Clumping, Evergreen Succulent
Succulent,
Clumping,
Evergreen Succulent
Climate Range(s) - Habitat
Arid-Semi / Steppe
Arid-Semi / Steppe
Climate Range(s) - Tolerance
Arid-Humid, Arid-Semi / Steppe, Continental, Oceanic, Temperate Warm, Mediterranean, Tropical-Sub
Arid-Humid,
Arid-Semi / Steppe,
Continental,
Oceanic,
Temperate Warm,
Mediterranean,
Tropical-Sub
Aspect Range(s)
Sun - Full
Sun - Full
Habitat Range(s)
Arid, Arid-Semi / Steppe, Desert Vegetation
Arid,
Arid-Semi / Steppe,
Desert Vegetation
Habitat Zone(s)
Cliffs, Hill Sides, Open areas, Ridges, Rock crevices, Rocky, Scattered, Slopes, Well drained
Cliffs,
Hill Sides,
Open areas,
Ridges,
Rock crevices,
Rocky,
Scattered,
Slopes,
Well drained
Mature Height
500 -550mm, 550-600mm, 600-700mm
500 -550mm,
550-600mm,
600-700mm
Mature Width
900mm-1m
900mm-1m
Plant Shape
Rosette - Spiked
Rosette - Spiked
Ball
Ball
Rosette - Spiked Rosette - Spiked,
Ball Ball
Growth Rate
Slow
Slow
Maturity
6-8 yrs.
6-8 yrs.
Life Span
15-30yrs
15-30yrs
Leaf Properties
Leaf Colour (front)
Brown-green, Glossy, Green Dark, White Variegated
Brown-green,
Glossy,
Green Dark,
White Variegated
Leaf Colour (back)
Brown-green, Green Dark
Brown-green,
Green Dark
Leaf Shape(s)
Lanceolate
Lanceolate
Lanceolate Lanceolate
Leaf Texture (front)
Glabrous
Glabrous
Leathery
Leathery
Glabrous Glabrous,
Leathery Leathery
Leaf Texture (back)
Glabrous
Glabrous
Leathery
Leathery
Glabrous Glabrous,
Leathery Leathery
Leaf Length(s)
150-175mm, 175-200mm, 200-250mm, 250-300mm, 300-400mm
150-175mm,
175-200mm,
200-250mm,
250-300mm,
300-400mm
Leaf Width(s)
20-25mm, 25-30mm, 30-40mm, 40-50mm
20-25mm,
25-30mm,
30-40mm,
40-50mm
Leaf Arrangement
Rosette
Rosette
Rosette Rosette
Leaf Aroma
None
None
Inflorescence (Flower) Properties
Gender: Bisexual
Flowering Time (start)
Autumn
Autumn
Flowering Time (end)
Winter
Winter
Colour(s)
Purple Dark, Yellow-green, Red-green
Purple Dark,
Yellow-green,
Red-green
Aroma(s)
None
None
Flower Shape(s)
Campanulate
Campanulate
Campanulate Campanulate
Flower Size(s) Length
45-50mm
45-50mm
Arrangement(s)
Spike
Spike
Spike Spike
Brush or Spike
Brush or Spike
Arrangement Size(s)
2.5-3m, 3-4m
2.5-3m,
3-4m
Flowers per Arrangement
many
many
Pollinator(s)
Bees, Birds, Butterflies
Bees,
Birds,
Butterflies
Root Properties
Type
Fibrous
Fibrous
Rhizome
Rhizome
Fibrous Fibrous,
Rhizome Rhizome
Invasiveness
None
None
Soil Properties
pH Range(s)
Acid, Slightly Acid, Neutral
Acid,
Slightly Acid,
Neutral
Condition(s)
Moist
Moist
Moist-Dry
Moist-Dry
Moist Moist,
Moist-Dry Moist-Dry
Fertile , Poor , Shallow , Deep , Well Drained
Fertile,
Poor,
Shallow,
Deep,
Well Drained
Salinities
Slight
Slight
Slight Slight
Waterlogging Class
W0 – Low tolerance
W0 – Low tolerance
Watering Requirements
WR4 - allow soil to dry between watering, WR5 - soil should remain dry 4 - 5 days between watering, WR7 - reduce watering during dormant period
WR4 - allow soil to dry between watering,
WR5 - soil should remain dry 4 - 5 days between watering,
WR7 - reduce watering during dormant period
Other Properties / Uses
Bee Attraction
Poor
Poor
Bird Attraction
None
None
Butterfly Attraction
None
None
Coastal
2nd Line
2nd Line
Edible(s)
None
None
Fire Retarding
Moderate
Moderate
Drought Tolerance
Good
Good
Frost Tolerance
Moderate
Moderate
Snow Tolerance
Light
Light
Smog Tolerant
Good
Good
Landscape Use
Good
Good
Humidity Requirements
Low, Medium
Low,
Medium
Altitude Range - Tolerance
0-100m, 100-200m, 200-300m, 300-400m, 400-500m, 500-600m, 600-700m, 700-800m, 800-900m, 900-1,000m, 1,000-1,250m, 1,250-1,500m, 1,500-1,750m, 1,750-2,000m, 2,000-2,250m, 2,250-2,500m, 2,500-2,750m
0-100m,
100-200m,
200-300m,
300-400m,
400-500m,
500-600m,
600-700m,
700-800m,
800-900m,
900-1,000m,
1,000-1,250m,
1,250-1,500m,
1,500-1,750m,
1,750-2,000m,
2,000-2,250m,
2,250-2,500m,
2,500-2,750m
Fertilising Requirements
FR11
FR11
Wind Tolerance
Moderate Winds
Moderate Winds

General Notes

An interesting ball shaped agave with a striking rosette of dark green leaves with fine white curly filiments off the margins of the leaves. After flowering the mother plant will die, leaving behind offsets to continue on. A good neat architectural plant for the garden or landscape.

It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit

There is several forms of the species

  • Agave filifera f. cristata, crested, forms a strange fan shaped, wavy rosette
  • Agave filifera subs. schidigera (Lem., B. Ullrich), small to medium sized decorated with white curly marginal fibres spreading in all directions.
  • Agave filifera var. schidigera (Lem., B. Ullrich) 'White Stripe', small to medium sized decorated with white white margin and curly marginal fibres spreading in all directions.
  • Agave filifera subs. schidigera f. compacta, very compact 200-250mm high
  • Agave filifera subs. schidigera cv. Shira Ito No Hoi, rosette composed of dark green leaves, creamy-white dorder and curly white hairs
  • Agave x leopoldii hort ex G. Nicholson, miniature hybrid, lots of fibres, very narrow leaves, lots of suckers
  • Agave x leopoldii cv. Hammer Time, leaves slightly elongated with golden strip down their edges
  • Agave filifera 'Red-Green', compact form, light green leaf base with red top half