Agave victoriae-reginae

Common Names

Queen Victoria Agave, Queen Victoria Century Plant, Royal Agave, Victoria Agave

Summary

Queen Victoria agave is a slow-growing, evergreen succulent native to the Chihuahuan Desert in Mexico, forming a compact, tight rosette of dark green leaves with distinctive white markings along the margins; margins are spineless and each leaf ends in a small terminal spine. The rosette reaches about 9–15 inches tall and 10–24 inches wide, and it flowers on a tall spike up to about 15 feet with creamy-colored blossoms after 20–30 years, after which the rosette dies, with offsets occasionally forming to continue the lineage.

Culture emphasizes full sun to light shade on well-drained soil with drought tolerance; water sparingly, allowing soil to dry between waterings; hardy in USDA zones 9–11; propagation by offsets or seeds; offsets form at the base after flowering. Often used in rock gardens, xeriscaping, desert landscapes, and containers.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

12-18 inches

Spread

1-2 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 7-11

Sunlight Requirements

Full Sun to Partial Shade.

Soil Type

Well-drained, sandy or gritty soil (succulent/cactus potting mix).

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soil

Soil pH

Tolerates all pH levels

Bloom Color

Creamy-white to pale yellow; sometimes red and purple.

Bloom Time

Summer

Foliage Color

Green with white markings

Fall Foliage Color

Green

Leaf Lifecycle

Evergreen broadleaf

Growth Rate

Slow growth

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Winter

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Division/Offsets, Cuttings (leaf cuttings or base of leaf), Tissue culture, Bulbils, Propagule

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees, hummingbirds, butterflies, and birds