Swan's neck agave

common name: Swan's neck agave, Foxtail Agave, Dragon-Tree Agave, Spineless Agave
Botanical name: Agave attenuata Family: Agavaceae (agave family)
Swan's neck agave is a species of agave sometimes known as the "lion's tail", "foxtail",

“elephant’s trunk”, for its development of a curved stem, unusual among agaves. Native to

the plateau of central Mexico, as one of the unarmed agaves, it is popular as an ornamental

plant in gardens. The stems typically range from 50-150 cm in length, and eventually old

leaves fall off, leaving them naked and visible. The plants have a large rosette of thick

fleshy leaves generally ending in a sharp point. It may take up to 10 years to bloom. Swan’s

neck agave's flower spike is a thing of wonder, and will either produce greenish-yellow

flowers or thousands of small plantlets, on its' entire length. Each plant stalk blooms only

once. Unlike other members of it's family this plant doesn't die after flowering. Agave

attenuata are best propagated by digging pups produced at the base of older plants and seeds

germinate readily when they are fresh.
Photographed in Pune, Maharshtra