Family
Agavaceae
Botanical Name
Agave toumeyana var. bella
Plant Common Name
Fairy-ring Agave, Miniature Century Plant, Toumey's Bella Agave
General Description
The super cute variety bella of Toumey's century plant is much smaller with shorter more uniform leaves and denser rosettes. Its flower stalk is also smaller.
The effusive rosettes of Toumey's century have sharp slender blades edged with slender white edges that pull away like delicate white scribbles. Though compact it makes a dramatic addition to any desert rock garden or container. This all-American native naturally exists in the mountains of Arizona. It is an unusually hardy species that can withstand periods of freezing as long as growing conditions remain dry, particularly at the root zone.
The dark green fleshy leaves of this century plant are small, straight with peeling white margins. The sharp white leaf tips are very sharp. Flowering only occurs when plants are mature, after many years. The ivory flowers are bell-shaped and appear in branched clusters atop tall stems in summer. They are fragrant and attract lots of desert pollinators. The fruits are capsules that age to dark brown and split at maturity to reveal, flat, black, shiny seeds. Once a rosette flowers it dies, though many Agave leave behind suckering colonies of living rosettes, or “pups”, at the base of the parent plant. Lots of species also produce small plantlets on the flower stalk, called bulbils, which can fall to the ground, root and become new plants.
Plant this century plant in hot full sun and nutrient-poor soil with sharp drainage. It will not tolerate any sustained moisture at the root zone, so be cautious not to overwater container-grown specimens. This perennial makes a great accent plant and looks nice planted among other succulents. It is lovely in containers and makes a fine houseplant for sunny windows or conservatories. Wickedly sharp Agave like this should not be planted where children play because it can be quite dangerous.
Characteristics
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AHS Heat Zone
10 - 1
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USDA Hardiness Zone
7 - 10
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Sunset Zone
2b, 3a, 3b, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
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Plant Type
Cactus or Succulent
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Sun Exposure
Full Sun
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Height
6"-8" / 15.2cm - 20.3cm
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Width
1'-2' / 0.3m - 0.6m
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Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer
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Native To
Southwestern United States
Growing Conditions
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Soil pH
Neutral
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Soil Drainage
Well Drained
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Soil type
Sand
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Growth Rate
Slow
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Water Requirements
Xeric/Desert, Drought Tolerant
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Habit
Rosette/Stemless
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Seasonal Interest
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Ornamental Features
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Flower Interest
Showy
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Flower Color
Ivory
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Fruit Color
Brown
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Foliage Color (Spring)
White, Dark Green
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Foliage Color (Summer)
White, Dark Green
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Foliage Color (Fall)
White, Dark Green
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Foliage Color (Winter)
White, Dark Green
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Fragrant Flowers
Yes
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Fragrant Fruit
No
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Fragrant Foliage
No
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Bark or Stem Fragrant
No
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Flower Petal Number
Single
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Repeat Bloomer
No
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Showy Fruit
No
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Edible Fruit
No
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Showy Foliage
Yes
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Foliage Texture
Coarse
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Foliage Sheen
Matte
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Evergreen
Yes
