Furcraea foetida

Common Names

Mauritius Hemp, Giant Cabuya, Green Aloe, Giant False Agave, Cuban Hemp, Cuba Hemp

Summary

Native to the Caribbean and northern South America, this evergreen succulent forms a large rosette of sword-shaped, deep green leaves up to 1–2 m long; leaves are softer than typical agaves and give a bold tropical look. It is monocarpic, dying after flowering, with offsets/new plants arising from bulbils along the spent flower spike; a very tall flowering stalk rises, bearing greenish-white, strongly scented flowers, and the inflorescence can reach 6–13 m, while plantlets along the bloom spike provide replanting material.

For cultivation, prefers full sun to light shade in well-drained soils with drought tolerance; hardy in USDA zones 8–13, best frost-free but able to survive some frost; water sparingly and tolerate drought, with occasional irrigation in warm weather; propagation via bulbils (seed rarely produced); commonly grown as an ornamental focal plant, hedge plant, or in agroforestry contexts, and its leaves yield strong fibers for ropes, sacks, and twine; pests include agave snout weevil, snails, and slugs.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

4-5 feet

Spread

6-10 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 9-11

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun to partial shade.

Soil Type

Well-drained soil, sandy to loamy, slightly acidic.

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soil

Soil pH

6–7 (neutral), tolerates 5.5–8

Bloom Color

Greenish-white

Bloom Time

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Foliage Color

Green

Fall Foliage Color

Yellow

Leaf Lifecycle

Evergreen broadleaf

Growth Rate

Slow

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Bulbils-based vegetative propagation (offsets/plantlets), Division

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees and birds