Agave nickelsiae

King Ferdinand Century Plant

This plant is not currently for sale. This is an archive page preserved for informational use.

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Item #: 4764

Zones: 7b to 10b, guessing

Dormancy: Evergreen

Height: 10" tall

Culture: Sun

Origin: Mexico

Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)


Agave nickelsiae is the new...we mean old name for the North American native, Agave ferdinandi-regis (yes, ferdinandi is spelled correctly). Agave nickelsiae is often lumped by herbarium taxonomists (people who study dead plants) with Agave victoriae-reginae, but Agave nickelsiae can be easily distinguished by more glaucous foliage, larger leaves, and larger terminal black spines. Each tight, slow-growing clump will reach 10" tall x 18" wide. We'll let the taxonomists fight the name battle while we enjoy the plants in our garden. Under favorable cultivation conditions, Agave nickelsiae should flower in 12-15 years with a solitary, upright, 12' stalk of hummingbird-attracting flowers. In climates with cold wet winters, it is essential to keep the plants dry when temperatures drop below 20 degrees F.