Agave virginica L.

Eastern False Aloe; Virginia Agave; Rattlesnake Master

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Virginia Agave is a native perennial in the Century-Plant family (Agavaceae). It can be found throughout Alabama. Virginia Agave grows in dry pine woods, in rocky woods, on roadside, and in cedar glades and prairies. It is a perennial from a short rhizome with thick fleshy roots. The leaves form a basal rosette. The leaves are lanceolate, smooth, succulent, and with entire margins or small prickles. The leaves are sometimes spotted with purple. Flowers are produced in a raceme on an elongated (3-4 feet) nearly leafless flower stalk. The tepals are untied into a green, glabrous tube. The stamens and style exceed the length of the tube, and are very conspicuous when the plant is in flower. The flowers are very fragrant with a sweet, fruity odor. They are pollinated by Sphinx Moths. The fruit is a 3-lobed capsule with many flat, black, papery seed. Virginia Agave is occasionally available from native plant nurseries. It thrives in dry, nutrient poor soils in full sun. Virginia Agave has Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) photosynthesis, which is also found in Cacti and other succulents. It does will on a bare slope or in a rock garden. – A. Diamond

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Native G5 (Global Rank)

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