Agave americana 'Marginata' · Variegated Century Plant

The plant shows a classic Agave rosette habit with thick, succulent, lance-shaped leaves that curve and arch, terminating in a sharp apical spine, with smaller marginal teeth along the leaf edges. The leaves display strong yellow marginal variegation with a green center stripe, consistent with the 'Marginata' cultivar of Agave americana. There is also a visible plant label in the pot that appears to read 'Agave americana,' supporting this identification. Some leaf tips show brown scarring/necrosis, likely from sun or cold damage, but this doesn't change the ID. Similar species to rule out include Agave americana 'Medio-picta' (which has central yellow variegation rather than marginal), Agave americana var. expansa, and other variegated Agave cultivars like Agave desmettiana 'Variegata' (which has softer, less rigid leaves and is generally smaller and less toothed). The overall leaf width, teeth spacing, and rosette size are most consistent with A. americana 'Marginata.'

Generated 2026-08-27 20:32 by anthropic (claude-sonnet-5).

Light

Full sun to very bright light; needs at least half a day of direct sun to maintain compact, well-colored growth.

Water

Drought-tolerant; water deeply then let soil dry out completely, roughly every 2-3 weeks, less in winter.

Nutrients

Light feeding with a diluted balanced or cactus/succulent fertilizer once or twice during the growing season is plenty; avoid heavy feeding.

Repotting

Repot every 2-4 years or when it outgrows its container; handle with thick gloves due to sharp spines.

Soil media

Cactus/succulent mix with excellent drainage; add extra pumice or coarse sand.

Temp & humidity

65-85F; low humidity preferred (20-40%) - this is an arid-climate plant and dislikes damp, stagnant air.

Temperature range

🌡️ 65-85F

Humidity range

💦 20-40%

Care group

🏷️ Bright & Dry

Toxicity

Sap and spines can cause skin irritation and painful puncture wounds; leaf-tip spines are sharp enough to injure visitors, so site away from foot traffic and handle with gloves and eye protection.

Pests & diseases

Generally trouble-free; watch for agave snout weevil and scale, and root/crown rot if overwatered or drainage is poor.

Propagation

Remove rooted basal offsets (pups) at the base of the mother plant and pot separately; this is far easier than seed propagation.

Generated 2026-08-27 20:32 by anthropic (claude-sonnet-5).