Furcraea foetida

Furcraea foetida is a large vigorous member of the Agavoideae from Central America, the adjoining northern region of South America and nearby islands of the southern Caribbean. It has naturalised in many warmer parts of the world and - along with other species of Furcraea - was taken to Mauritius where it acquired one of its common names: Mauritius Hemp. In Colombia in particular, its fibres are made into various handcrafts and continue to be utilsed in the production of rope and sacking although its worldwide use has now been largely curtailed by the advent of polypropylene.

Furcraea foetida is a fast-growing plant and with its upright rosette of long and broad strappy spine-free foliage it has the appearance of an exotic vegetal explosion. The stem is shortish or sometimes non-existent but the inflorescence is enormous - up to 8 metres high - and bears numerous fragrant creamy-green flowers which dangle down from the branches of the inflorescence in a spectacular display. Like other Furcraea species, bulbils form in the inflorescence together with numerous seeds.

Although a tropical plant, Furcraea has some cold-tolerance and can be grown outdoors in the UK in milder parts of the country particularly if harboured in a sheltering micro-climate. It requires a free-draining substrate and in the UK a south-facing aspect in full sun is best. If it is backed by a protective heat-absorbing wall of brick or masonary then so much the better.