Common Name: agave
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Asparagaceae
Zone: 9 to 11
Height: 2.00 to 3.00 feet
Spread: 2.00 to 3.00 feet
Bloom Time: Rarely flowers
Bloom Description: Greenish-yellow
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Dry to medium
Maintenance: Medium
Flower: Showy
Leaf: Evergreen
Other: Winter Interest
Tolerate: Drought, Dry Soil
Culture
Winter hardy to USDA Zones 9-11 where best growth occurs in sandy/gritty, dry to medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Tolerates close to full shade. Also tolerant of drought, but best growth occurs when soils receive even moisture during the growing season with significantly reduced moisture in winter. Avoid wet soils. Sharp soil drainage is important.
Where not winter hardy, these plants may be grown in containers (cactus-type potting mix) that are overwintered indoors in full sun locations with minimal watering. Best growth occurs when the container is only slightly larger than the foliage rosette. Container plants may also be grown indoors year round.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Agave geminiflora, commonly known as twin-flowered agave, is a pin-cushion type agave that features numerous narrow, fine-textured, unarmed but needle-tipped, dark green leaves which spread outward from the center of the plant to form a dense, rounded, symmetrical rosette rising to 2-3’ tall. Leaves are straight and stiff when grown in full sun but tend to arch in shady conditions. This agave is native to oak woodland forested areas between 3,000-4,000’ in elevation in the State of Nayarit in west central Mexico. Outdoor plants typically bloom between the 10th and 15th years. Indoor plants may never bloom. When an outdoor plant does bloom, it sends up a single, sturdy, erect, branchless flowering spike to 8-10’ tall from the center of the basal rosette of leaves bearing greenish-yellow flowers in pairs. This plant is monocarpic. It blooms once and then dies and must be replaced. It will infrequently leave offsets.
The genus name Agave comes from the Greek word agauos meaning "admirable" or "noble" in probable reference to the very tall flower spikes found on the plants of many species of Agave.
Specific epithet from Latin means having paired or several flowers.
RASTA MAN features leaves which are adorned with numerous showy ivory white filaments.
Problems
No serious insect or disease problems. Agave snout weevil can be troublesome. Slugs and snails may damage foliage. Root rot may occur, particularly in poorly-drained or overly-moist soils.
Uses
Interesting small selection for rock gardens. Where winter hardy, this hybrid serves as an interesting tropical accent or small specimen. Plants are often grown in cactus or succulent garden areas. Also grows well in containers as an indoor plant.