Twin flowered Agave

Twin Flowered Agave (Agave geminiflora) grows a dense sphere of hundreds of fine, flexible leaves rather than the broad armed blades most agaves carry. The rosette reaches about 0.8m tall and 0.9m wide, each dark green leaf edged with curling white threads that catch the light. It is the agave for tight spaces: sculptural in a pot, striking in a rockery, and unbothered by heat, salt or poor soil.

Why you'll love it

• Sculpture, not just a succulent. The perfectly radial ball of fine leaves looks architectural from every angle and needs no companion planting to carry a space.
• Friendlier edges than most agaves. The leaves have no marginal teeth, just a slender point at the tip, so it is far easier to garden around than the big toothed species.
• Thrives on neglect. Drought tolerant, heat tolerant and content in poor soil, it asks for a drink only through long dry summers.
• A small, predictable footprint. At under a metre each way it fits courtyards, narrow beds and containers without ever staging a takeover.
• Coastal tough. Salt laden wind that shreds soft foliage leaves this agave untouched.

Where it works best

Feature planting and rockeries. Set it where the silhouette reads clearly: among boulders, in gravel, or repeated down a dry bank in full sun.

Pots and small gardens. A wide bowl or squat pot suits the radial form perfectly, and container growing keeps it portable for balconies and courtyards.

Coastal and low water gardens. It belongs in the waterwise palette, holding its structure through drought and sea wind that flatten leafier choices.

Growing Twin Flowered Agave in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun gives the tightest, most symmetrical rosette; light shade opens the form slightly. It suits subtropical, warm temperate, Mediterranean and arid climates. It handles light frost only, so in cold inland and southern districts grow it in a pot and shift it under the eaves for winter.

Soil. Drainage is the only rule. Sandy, gravelly and poor soils are all fine; on clay, plant it in a raised mound or a pot.

Water and feed. Water to establish, then an occasional deep drink through the hottest months is all it wants. Keep it dry in winter. Feeding is close to unnecessary; a little slow release in spring at most.

Pruning. None. Pull the odd spent lower leaf away and it stays presentable for years.

What to expect when it arrives

We grow Twin Flowered Agave in seven sizes: tube stock, 140mm pots in a pack of 10, 200mm in a pack of 6, 250mm in a pack of 3, and single 300mm, 400mm and 500mm plants. Tubes and the multi-plant packs are the economical route for repeated plantings; a 400mm or 500mm plant is an instant sculpture.

Being a succulent it travels exceptionally well. Plant it, water it in once, and let it settle. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Top agave varieties for Australian gardens
• Agave garden ideas for easy care planting
• Browse our succulent range
• Agave 'Blue Glow', a compact companion with coloured margins

Common questions

Is it safe near paths and pools?

Safer than most agaves. The leaf edges carry no teeth, though each leaf ends in a fine point, so give it half a metre of clearance from where children play and it is an easy neighbour.

Will it survive frost?

Light frost only. The odd light frost may mark leaf tips but the plant recovers; regular hard frosts will damage it, so cold district gardeners should keep it potted and protected in winter.

How big does it really get?

Plan on 0.8m tall and 0.9m wide, though old rosettes creep a little beyond that. Growth is slow and steady, so it holds its space for many years.

What happens when it flowers?

Like most agaves it flowers once, after many years, sending up a tall spike of paired yellow flowers. The flowering rosette then declines, which is natural rather than a fault, and it is a spectacle worth the wait.