Agave victoriae-reginae - Huasteca Canyon
Agave victoriae-reginae is a well-known and extremely beautiful small-to-medium-sized Agave that has a rosette of compacted short stout leaves with no marginal spines but ending in a terminal spine. The foliage is attractively marked with white bud imprints similar to Agave toumeyana. Huasteca Canyon is the type locality of Agave victoriae-reginae. It is south of the small town of Santa Catarina to the west of Monterrey in Nuevo León in Northern Mexico. It is a dramatic location with tall walls of white moon-scape rock. The population of Agave victoriae-reginae there is deep into the canyon growing in very dry rocky soil or on steep limestone cliffs and is often found amongst Agave bracteosa, Agave lechuguilla, Agave striata, Dasylirion berlandieri, Echinocereus fitchii ssp. armatus and Hechtia species.
Agave victoriae-reginae is a slow-growing species but responds well to a large root run and a carefully regulated watering regime in the growing season. Usually sold as a houseplant, it is far hardier than most most people realise and will tolerate low sub-zero temperatures providing it is kept perfectly dry. Experienced growers with a correctly prepared xeric bed and a suitable rain-shelter will want to try this outdoors yet its small stature also makes it ideal for container culture, allowing the back-up of being able to bring it in if you get nervous during the worst of the winter weather.
Agave victoriae-reginae has been a prize-winning Agave ever since it was first exhibited in Paris in 1872. No Agave collection is complete without it.
Additional Information
| Order | Asparagales |
|---|---|
| Family | Asparagaceae |
| Sub-Family | Agavoideae |
| Synonyms | Agave consideranti, Agave ferdinandi-regis, Agave victoriae-reginae f. dentata, Agave victoriae-reginae f. latifolia, Agave victoriae-reginae f. longifolia, Agave victoriae-reginae f. longispina, Agave victoriae-reginae f. ornata, Agave victoriae-reginae f. stolonifera, Agave victoriae-reginae subsp. victoriae-reginae |
| Geographical Origin | Mexico: Huasteca Canyon west of Monterrey, Nuevo León |
| Cultivation | Full sun. Dry. Warm, sheltered aspect. A very free draining alkaline substrate with additional sand, grit. shingle and limestone chippings |
| Eventual Height | 20-35cm. Flower spike to 2m |
| Eventual Spread | 20-35cm |
| Hardiness | Down to about -12C in well-drained substrate. A raised xeric bed on a steep gradient is ideal. Its small size means making a rain-shelter is relatively easy. Can also be grown in a container and brought indoors. Fleece is always sensible! |
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