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Agave virginica

False Aloe · Eastern Agave · Rattlesnake Master · Virginia Agave

Family AsparagaceaeGenus Agave

Also published as Manfreda virginica. You are in the right place.

A rosette of long, narrow, gray-green leaves with wavy edges, on rocky ground among ferns
The whole plantGera03CC BY-SA 4.0
A hand-colored plate of a rosette of spotted strap leaves with a tall flower spike, the thick roots drawn below
IllustrationNikolaus Joseph von Jacquin (1727-1817)Public domain

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
Herbaceous Perennial, SucculentExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Habit
succulent perennialPlants of the World Online
Height
3-6 ft0.9-1.8 mExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Spread
3-4 ft0.9-1.2 mExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Flower
Gold/Yellow, GreenExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Blooms
Fall, SummerExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Hardiness zones
6-9Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sun; Partial ShadeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
Sand, Shallow RockyExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil pH
Alkaline (>8.0)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
Good Drainage, Occasionally Dry, Very DryExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Worth knowing

  • The false aloe's flowers smell sweet and fruity, and it is pollinated mainly at night by moths, including sphinx moths; bees by day set much less seed. Wikipedia: Agave virginica

This source reports three treatments. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 15, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Gibberellic acid soak

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 21 days to germinate.

33% germination in 21 days.

GA-3 raises the germination but the seedlings soon rotted.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Agave p. 90Public domain
Show the original text
Agave (Llliaceae). A. (Manfreda) virginica germ. 40-70D(4/18 in 5th w), 70D(1/4 in 6th w), and 70D .GA-3(2/6 in 3rd w). The seedlings from the GA-3 treatment soon rotted.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Agave p. 90. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around February 22, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 42 days to germinate.

25% germination in 42 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Agave p. 90Public domain
Show the original text
Agave (Llliaceae). A. (Manfreda) virginica germ. 40-70D(4/18 in 5th w), 70D(1/4 in 6th w), and 70D .GA-3(2/6 in 3rd w).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Agave p. 90. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 3

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around December 1, 2026 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

about 3 months from start to sowing. Then 35 days to germinate.

22% germination in 35 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Agave p. 90Public domain
Show the original text
Agave (Llliaceae). A. (Manfreda) virginica germ. 40-70D(4/18 in 5th w), 70D(1/4 in 6th w), and 70D .GA-3(2/6 in 3rd w). The seedlings from the GA-3 treatment soon rotted.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Agave p. 90. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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