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.

Plant

Taken by Ken Harrington on 6th January, 2020 at Brisbane Botanic Gardens, Queensland

Leaf (Front)

Taken by Ken Harrington

Inflorescence

Taken by Unkown

Flowers

Taken by Unkown

Plant

Taken by Valentino Vallicelli

Expand all

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

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

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

Plant Shape

Rosette - Spiked

Ball

Rosette - Spiked,

Ball

Growth Rate

Slow

Maturity

6-8 yrs.

Life Span

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

Leaf Texture (front)

Glabrous

Leathery

Glabrous,

Leathery

Leaf Texture (back)

Glabrous

Leathery

Glabrous,

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 Margin(s)

Filiferous

Leaf Arrangement

Rosette

Leaf Cross Section(s)

Bi-convex

Concave

Bi-convex,

Concave

Apice(s)

Acute Narrowly

Spinous

Acute Narrowly,

Spinous

Leaf Aroma

None

Leaf Attachment

Collar Narrow

Inflorescence (Flower) Properties

Gender: Bisexual

Flowering Time (start)

Autumn

Flowering Time (end)

Winter

Colour(s)

Purple Dark, Yellow-green, Red-green

Purple Dark,

Yellow-green,

Red-green

Aroma(s)

None

Flower Shape(s)

Campanulate

Flower Size(s) Length

45-50mm

Petal Shape(s)

Oblong

Recurved

Arrangement(s)

Spike

Brush or Spike

Arrangement Size(s)

2.5-3m, 3-4m

2.5-3m,

3-4m

Flowers per Arrangement

many

Pollinator(s)

Bees, Birds, Butterflies

Bees,

Birds,

Butterflies

Stamen Length

30-40mm

Stamen Colour(s)

Red-brown

Petal Number

Seed Properties

Colour(s)

Black

Seed Number

many

Root Properties

Type

Fibrous

Rhizome

Fibrous,

Rhizome

Invasiveness

None

Soil Properties

Type(s)

Loam, Sandy-loam, Sand, Stony

Loam,

Sandy-loam,

Sand,

Stony

pH Range(s)

Acid, Slightly Acid, Neutral

Acid,

Slightly Acid,

Neutral

Condition(s)

Moist

Moist-Dry

Moist,

Moist-Dry

Fertile , Poor , Shallow , Deep , Well Drained

Fertile,

Poor,

Shallow,

Deep,

Well Drained

Salinities

Slight

Waterlogging Class

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

Bird Attraction

None

Butterfly Attraction

None

Coastal

2nd Line

Edible(s)

None

Fire Retarding

Moderate

Drought Tolerance

Good

Frost Tolerance

Moderate

Snow Tolerance

Light

Minimum Temperature Tolerance

-6 - -4°C

Smog Tolerant

Good

Landscape Use

Good

Street Use

None

Commercial Use(s)

Horticulture - Amenity

Maintenance(s)

Dead Heading, Dead Leaf Removal

Dead Heading,

Dead Leaf Removal

Special Purpose(s)

Garden-Modern, Garden-Park land, Garden-Container, Foliage-interesting, Garden-Cacti, Garden-Coastal, Garden-Courtyard, Garden-Desert, Garden-Formal, Garden-Informal, Garden-Mediterranean, Garden-Rock, Garden-Xeriscape, Irritating-Sap, Irritating-Spines, Shade Tolerant, Shady Dry, Specimen, Sunny Dry, Tolerant- Rabbit's/Hares, Tolerant-Deer, Tolerant-Kangaroo's

Garden-Modern,

Garden-Park land,

Garden-Container,

Foliage-interesting,

Garden-Cacti,

Garden-Coastal,

Garden-Courtyard,

Garden-Desert,

Garden-Formal,

Garden-Informal,

Garden-Mediterranean,

Garden-Rock,

Garden-Xeriscape,

Irritating-Sap,

Irritating-Spines,

Shade Tolerant,

Shady Dry,

Specimen,

Sunny Dry,

Tolerant- Rabbit's/Hares,

Tolerant-Deer,

Tolerant-Kangaroo's

Dormancy

Winter

Humidity Requirements

Low, Medium

Low,

Medium

Vulnerability

LC - Least Concern

Altitude Range - Habitat

2,500-2,750m

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

Annual Precipitation Range

150mm, 175mm

150mm,

175mm

Fertilising Requirements

FR11

Wind Tolerance

Moderate Winds

Propagation

Fresh Seed, Offsets

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

Propagation Notes

Expand all

Hot Water Stratified Seed

Flowering

Winter, Autumn

Seed Collecting

Spring

Sowing

Spring Early

Material Preparation

Collect the capsules as they are starting to dry out. Place in a paper bag to dry out thoroughly for 1 - 2 weeks. Rub the capsules between gloved hands to remove any seed that hasn't fallen out. Clean and store in a cool dark place.

Viability:- 6 - 8 years

Seeds/gram:-

Propagating Mix

1 part Premium Potting Mix + 1 part coarse washed Sand + 1 part Perlite

Treatment

Fill seedling tray BUT do not firm down. Sow seed, approximately 10mm apart, cover lightly with mix, then a thin sprinkle of fine gravel (6-7mm), water in well with Previcur fungicide mix. Place in a hot house on a 21^oC heated bed. Keep damp but not too wet. Maintain hot house environment temperature between 25-30° C, with bright indirect sunlight.

Viable seeds/gram:-

Germination time:- 6 - 10 weeks

Pricking out:- 8 - 12 weeks after germination (2 - 3 leaf stage)

Tube Mix:- 1 part Premium Potting Mix + 1 part coarse washed Sand

Offsets

Flowering

Winter, Autumn

Division

Summer Early, Spring Late

Material Preparation

Being careful of the spikes, select offsets that are formed well. With a sharp knife, slice down the side of the stem of the mother plant to remove the offset with any possible roots attached. If roots are attached then the offset can be potted up straight away. If no roots are attached, remove lower leaves to expose approximately 20 - 25mm of stem. Place to one side and allow the wound to callous for 1 - 2 weeks.

Propagating Mix

Premium Cacti Mix

1 part Premium Potting Soil + 1 part coarse washed Sand

Treatment

Fill the pot with mix. Using a dibber make a hole in the middle of the pot of mix a little larger than the stem. Place the offest into the pot of mix being careful of the spines. The offset should stand firm and be approximately 25 - 50mm into the mix. Water the mix thoroughly with Previcur fungicide. Place in cold house, keep moist. Maintain cold house environment between 50-75% humidity and temperature between 20-30° C.

Strike Rate:- Field Stock 75-95 %

Nursery Stock 90-99 %

Rooting time:- Field Stock 4 - 8 weeks

Nursery Stock 4 - 8 weeks