Furcraea longaeva

The Furcraea longavea is a spectacular cousin of agaves and yuccas, but sensitive to the cold. This Mexican species, rarely cultivated, closely resembles the Furcraea bedinghausii (parmentieri), from which it differs with its green foliage instead of glaucous, less cold resistance, and apparent absence of bulblets on the flower stalks. With a highly exotic appearance, its stout trunk supporting a crown of large trailing leaves, the Furcraea prepares for many years a powerful flowering in the form of an apotheosis, marking the end of its life. It takes the form of a giant panicle covered with star-shaped waxy flowers, giving it its lovely name of 'Mexican Star Shower'. In our privileged coastal gardens, reserve a prime location on a slope or in the center of a large rockery for this natural curiosity.

Native to southern Mexico, specifically the province of Oaxaca (states of Guerrero, Oaxaca, and Puebla), in low-altitude dry shrubs, Furcraea longavea can withstand short frosts of around -5°/-6°C in dry soil. Young plants, very sensitive to the cold, prefer partial shade and water, but well-established specimens tolerate summer drought well. It is a plant from the agavaceae or asparagaceae family, with relatively slow growth. When young, the Furcraea forms a rosette composed of large, wide, pointed, succulent leaves, mostly erect to trailing towards their tips, with denticulate edges and few spines. Each leaf can measure over 1.50 m (4 ft 11 in) long and 12 cm (4.7 in) wide on a mature plant. After many years, it can develop a trunk several meters tall (depending on the climate), covered with a 'skirt' of dry leaves that eventually fall off on their own. This trunk bears a large crown of trailing leaves, measuring up to 2 m (6 ft 7 in) wide. Flowering occurs after 6 to 15 years of cultivation marking the death of this monocarpic plant. In this species, the inflorescence can rise up to more than 5 m (16 ft 5 in) from the ground under optimal conditions. It develops into a large pyramidal panicle with trailing branches. The tubular flowers with fleshy and villous petals, opening into star-shaped flowers measuring 5.5 cm (2.2 in) in diameter, are white, more or less tinged with light yellow and green. The plant can reach a total height of 12 m (39 ft 5 in) when flowering in favorable climates.

Furcraea longaeva requires sunlight and a very well-draining soil, and tolerates coastal conditions perfectly. It particularly dislikes heavy, waterlogged soils in winter. In our mildest regions, it will find its place on a large slope, in the center of an exotic or contemporary rockery, or even near a swimming pool if the soil is well-prepared to accommodate it. This large plant will simply be magnificent when isolated, accompanied by a carpet of cerastiums, Ceratostigma plumbaginoides, Delosperma, or even a dry meadow of Zoysia tenuifolia, the Mascarene grass. It can also be associated with palm trees, Jubaea agaves, phormiums, Hesperaloe parviflora, Beschorneria yuccoides, equally spectacular and frugal. Carefully choose the most sheltered spot from winter rains, in full sun.