Scientific Name
Leuchtenbergia principis Hook.
Synonym(s)
Anhalonium leuchtenbergii
Common Name(s)
Agave Cactus, Cob Cactus, Prism Cactus
Scientific Classification
Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily: Cactoideae
Tribe: Cacteae
Genus: Leuchtenbergia
Etymology
The specific epithet "principis" (pronounced "PRIN-sip-iss") means "leader, first man or woman, head; prince, sovereign," and honors Maximilian Joseph Eugene Auguste Napoleon de Beauharnais (1817-1852), 3rd Duke of Leuchtenberg, Prince Romanowsky, and amateur botanist.
Origin
Leuchtenbergia principis is native to north-central Mexico (San Luis Potosí, Chihuahua).
Description
Leuchtenbergia principis is a unique cactus with a cylindrical stem and long, grayish-green tubercles with purplish-red blotches at the tips, topped with papery spines, which give it a resemblance to an Agave. It slowly grows and can reach 28 inches (70 cm) tall. The stem becomes bare and corky at the base with age. The tubercles are triangular in cross-section and grow up to 3 inches (12.5 cm) long.
After about 4 years, yellow, funnel-shaped flowers appear at the tips of the tubercles from spring to fall. The flowers can reach 2.4 inches (6 cm) in diameter. The fruits are smooth and green, growing up to 1.2 inches (3 cm) long and 0.8 inches (2 cm) in diameter.
Leuchtenbergia principis is the only species of the genus.
How to Grow and Care
Hardiness: USDA hardiness zones 9a to 11b: from 20°F (-6.7°C) to 50°F (10°C).
Agave Cactus is reasonably easy and tolerant and should grow well, given the basic guidelines for growing cacti and other succulents. However, this desert species, adapted to arid conditions, seems to benefit from intense solar radiation. Therefore, it should always be moved to an outdoor position during the warmer months of spring through early fall to benefit from exposure to direct sunlight and summer's higher temperatures.
If grown exclusively indoors, this species will slowly languish in the comparatively low light levels of interior spaces and probably never thrive. However, it has proven to be a reliable bloomer when grown outdoors, invariably producing intermittent blooms from spring to fall.
Agave Cactus tolerates a remarkable amount of rain during its outdoor growing season. Still, their large, turnip-like roots can be very susceptible to root rot when exposed to extended cold and wet conditions. So, the potting medium should be especially gritty to provide the extra drainage this species needs. Also, extra care should be given during winter to prevent overwatering this species. Many growers do not water this plant at all in the winter.
Agave Cactus is usually propagated by seeds, as it rarely pups or produces offsets. It has been reported that plants can be propagated by tubercle cuttings, but this method is uncommon.
Links
- Back to genus Leuchtenbergia
- Succupedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
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