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Agave filifera

Agave filifera

£23.00

At a glance

Light
Full sun5+ hours of sun
Lowest temperature
-4°C Takes some frost
Mature size
100 cm x 100cm Height x width
Growability
BeginnerWhat this means
Where it grows best and how to care for it
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What arrives

  • Sent by Royal Mail, with tracking
  • Unless stated otherwise, grown in a 6cm pot and around 5-7cm wide. Size guide
  • Sent bare-root, so it travels safely. Why we ship without pots and soil
  • Packed without plastic, apart from the plant label
  • Grown at our nursery in Cornwall and picked by hand for your order

The plant you receive may not look exactly like the photos.

About this plant

Also known as the ‘Thread-Leaf Agave’. This plant has a neat form with slender spiky leaves, featuring hairs on each leaf margin.

This is a tight compact growing medium sized agave that is capable of reaching 90cm in height and spread. Once mature, it is capable of withstanding cold temperatures as low as -8*c, but will need a good free draining soil mix to survive a cold winter.

Like all Agave, they will appreciate regular feeding in the growing season.

This Agave can be a very dramatic when it eventually flowers producing a 3-metre flower spike that is heavily clustered in dark pink to purple flowers for several months.

Delivery

We send everything by Royal Mail, and you'll get tracking updates once your order is on its way.

Standard: we send your order within 3 working days by Tracked 48, so it takes 3 to 5 days to arrive.

Super Express: order before 2pm on a working day and it goes out the same day by Tracked 24, arriving in 1 to 2 working days.

Packaging

Our packaging is 100% plastic-free. The plant label is the only plastic in the box.

Your plants travel bare-root, nested carefully in the packaging.

Plant profile

Where Agave filifera grows best

Light

Full sun

5+ hours of sun

  1. Full shade
  2. Partial shade
  3. Full sun

Lowest temperature

-4°C

Takes frost down to -4°C. Give it shelter if it gets colder than that.

Good places to grow it

  • Outdoor tabletop
  • Patio
  • Conservatory
Growability
Beginner
Growth form
Singular rosette
Growth rate
Moderate
Mature size (H x W)
100 cm x 100cm
Foliage colour
Green

Customer reviews

Care guide

How to care for Agave filifera

Watering
Agaves are summer growers, so water Agave filifera freely through the warm growing season. Follow a soak-and-dry approach: drench the entire root area thoroughly, let all excess drain away, then allow the compost to dry before watering again. In active growth this usually means watering about once a week, rising to two or three times a week during prolonged hot, sunny, dry spells.

Water in the morning and check the compost first. Outdoor plants in sharply drained ground can rely largely on rainfall, but containers should be monitored through prolonged dry spells.

Keep Agave filifera almost dry over winter, when growth rests. Cold, saturated compost and water sitting in the crown are the greatest risks, far more than cold itself.

We supply the recommended care essentials for mail order. Find the relevant products here: succulent compost

Light and position
Provide Agave filifera with Full Sun - 5+ Hours of Sun. Suitable positions can include Outdoor Tabletop, Patio, and Conservatory. Strong natural light is particularly important through winter and helps the plant maintain firm, compact leaves.

Most Agaves prefer full sun or partial shade. Variegated forms often keep their markings more clearly with protection from the harshest afternoon sun.

Allow sufficient space around the mature rosette and keep it away from narrow paths, doors and play areas. The leaf margins and terminal spines can cause injury.
Compost and drainage
Plant Agave filifera in a sharply drained mixture containing approximately 50% multi-purpose compost and 50% horticultural grit or perlite. Always use a stable pot with large, unrestricted drainage holes.

Set outdoor plants at a slight angle so rain runs away from the crown. Apply a thick mineral top-dressing to keep the lowest leaves away from wet compost.

Do not overpot an Agave. A large volume of unused compost remains damp for too long and makes the heavy rosette less stable.

We supply the recommended care essentials for mail order. Find the relevant products here: succulent compost horticultural grit perlite

Feeding
Feed Agave filifera regularly during active spring and summer growth to support strong, healthy development. Incorporate a five to six-month slow-release fertiliser when repotting, or apply a well-balanced liquid feed every two to three weeks.

Apply liquid feed only when the compost is already moist. Regular feeding through the warm months promotes firm, well-coloured leaves and strong growth right through summer.

Stop feeding as temperatures fall and growth slows. Soft late growth is less resilient through a cold, damp winter.

We supply the recommended care essentials for mail order. Find the relevant products here: succulent compost liquid seaweed feed

Winter care
The recorded minimum temperature for Agave filifera is -4°C. Agave hardiness varies greatly, so follow the product's recorded value rather than treating every species in the same way.

Keep the plant in the brightest available position and protect it from persistent winter wet. Young plants, tender cultivars and containers can be moved beneath cover or wrapped with horticultural fleece during severe weather.

Keep the compost on the dry side while growth is resting. Some hardy species tolerate snow and frost successfully when their roots and crowns remain well drained.

We supply the recommended care essentials for mail order. Find the relevant products here: succulent compost horticultural fleece

Summer care
Agaves tolerate heat well when they have strong roots and free-draining compost. Water thoroughly during prolonged hot, dry weather and allow the compost to drain between waterings.

Ventilate greenhouses and conservatories so heat does not become trapped around the crown. Variegated forms may need temporary afternoon shade to prevent pale tissue from scorching.

Continue feeding through active summer growth. Stop if the plant is stressed, newly repotted or unable to dry between waterings.

We supply the recommended care essentials for mail order. Find the relevant products here: succulent compost

Repotting
Repot Agave filifera in spring when it becomes pot-bound or unstable. Wear suitable gloves and handle the rosette carefully because the terminal spines and leaf margins can be sharp.

Remove dead leaves and roots, separate any well-developed offsets and replace the old compost with a fresh 50:50 compost and mineral mixture.

Set the plant at a slight angle outdoors so water drains away from the crown. Wash your hands after handling because Agave sap can irritate the skin.

We supply the recommended care essentials for mail order. Find the relevant products here: succulent compost

Common problems
A loose crown, soft basal leaves or a sour smell from the compost indicates excess moisture and root damage. Remove rotten tissue, improve drainage and keep the plant dry while it recovers.

Pale, elongated leaves indicate insufficient light. Move Agave filifera gradually into a brighter position, particularly during winter.

Check deep leaf bases for mealybug and scale. Position the plant safely so its terminal spines cannot injure people or pets.

We supply the recommended care essentials for mail order. Find the relevant products here: succulent compost

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Grown by us

We grow every plant ourselves at our nursery in Cornwall and look after it from the start.

The plants we post are 5-7cm across and mostly grown in 6-7cm pots, though size varies a little by variety. They travel bare-root so they arrive safely, healthy and ready to go into a pot at home.

Sending it as a gift

Succulents make thoughtful gifts that last, for a birthday, a celebration or someone special.

Leave a gift note or delivery instructions in the cart, and add a separate delivery address at checkout to send it straight to them.

Expert advice

Our care guides cover watering, winter care and seasonal jobs, so you have what you need to grow healthy, good-looking plants.

All of our advice