| Queen Victoria's agave | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Asparagaceae |
| Subfamily: | Agavoideae |
| Genus: | Agave |
| Species: | A. victoriae-reginae |
| Binomial name | |
| Agave victoriae-reginae T. Moore (1875) | |
| Synonyms[3][4] | |
| |
Agave victoriae-reginae, theQueen Victoria agave orroyal agave, is a smallspecies ofsucculent floweringperennial plant, noted for its streaks of white on sculptured geometrical leaves, and popular as an ornamental.
This agave is highly variable in form, but in general the rosettes are small and compact, growing to 0.5m, composed of short, rigid, thick leaves that are green with a pattern of distinctive white markings. The markings are generally along leaf keels or margins, giving a sort of polyhedral appearance. Marginal teeth are usually lacking, while the terminus of the leaf may include 1 to 3 spines, each 1.5–3 cm in length. Cream coloured flowers are borne in erectracemes up to 4m in length.
A. victoriae-reginae is found in theChihuahuan Desert in the Mexican States ofCoahuila,Durango andNuevo León, with about a half-dozen subspecies named. The situation is complicated by hybrids with a number of other agave species.[5][6] Although it faces some local threats, the population of the species as a whole is stable, and it is not considered by theIUCN to be threatened.[1]
It is cold-hardy as agaves go, and thus finds favor as a small accent in many northerly gardens. However it is recommended in the UK that this plant be kept in heated conditions under glass during winter. It has gained theRoyal Horticultural Society'sAward of Garden Merit.[7] When grown as a houseplant, it is best planted in a very porous, sandy soil and given direct sunlight or bright shade. The soil should be permitted to dry out between waterings. The plant need only be repotted about every two to three years. Propagation is normally by seed, since the plant rarely produces basal shoots.[8]
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