False Agave Plant Care

False Agave (Furcraea foetida) belongs to the Asparagaceae family within the Furcraea genus. False Agave is native to the Caribbean and northern South America. False Agave is also known as Mauritius Hemp, Agave, Pita.

False Agave displays a tall, architectural rosette growth habit, reaching up to 10 ft tall with a spread of approximately 6 ft. False Agave produces large panicles of white or yellow flowers.

Leaf size: approximately 24 inches.

Water a young or newly planted False Agave every 14–21 days, soaking the whole root zone, until it is established — usually one to two growing seasons. Established trees mainly need water during long dry spells. In a container, water whenever the top few centimetres of soil are dry.

False Agave thrives in full sun to partial shade.

Furcraea foetida tolerates temperatures of 50–85°F. False Agave prefers humidity levels of 40–70%.

Well-draining sandy soil mix with added perlite and gravel. Good drainage is essential for False Agave to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

Feed False Agave every 6 months during the growing season with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the rate on the label. Established trees in good soil often need little extra feeding, so let weak growth or pale foliage guide you.

Stop feeding by late summer so new growth can harden before winter.

The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.

Choose a spot with full sun to partial shade and well-draining sandy soil mix with added perlite and gravel. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.

False Agave is suited to USDA Zone 12a.

Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped trees in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.

False Agave can spread to about 6 ft (1.8 m) and reach about 10 ft (3 m) tall. Space plants about 6 ft (1.8 m) apart so mature crowns don't crowd each other, and plant at least half that distance from buildings, fences and paths.

Planning a row or hedge? Try the tree spacing calculator.

Prune False Agave while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.

If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the tree in one year.

False Agave is frost-tender (hardy to USDA zone 12). In colder areas grow it in a container and move it to a bright, frost-free place before the first frost.

False Agave can be propagated through offsets, stem cuttings.

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False Agave is susceptible to spider mites, mealybugs. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.

Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.

False Agave grows outdoors in USDA Zone 12a. It survives winters down to planting zone 12a. False Agave is native to the Caribbean and northern South America. In cooler regions, grow False Agave as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.