Cornelius Agave

Here’s a description for the Cornelius Agave:

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Cornelius Agave

The Cornelius Agave, often listed as Agave ‘Cornelius’ or Agave americana ‘Cornelius’, is a distinctive and highly ornamental succulent that brings a unique visual flair to any landscape. While often associated with Agave americana, it’s considered a unique sport or hybrid, perhaps discovered by a collector named Dr. Cornelius. Its precise native climate is linked to its parentage, thriving in mild, Mediterranean, and semi-arid climates, and showing remarkable cold hardiness compared to some other variegated agaves. It performs well in full sun to partial shade and requires excellent drainage.

As a monocarpic perennial, the Cornelius Agave has a typical lifespan of 10 to 20 years (though often cited as a century plant, its actual lifespan is much shorter) before it eventually produces a tall flower stalk, signaling the end of the main rosette’s life. However, it often produces offsets, or “pups,” ensuring its continuation. Its most prominent characteristic is its compact, clumping rosette of unusually thick, wavy leaves that display stunning variegation. The center of each leaf is typically a blue-green to mid-green, bordered by a wide, bright creamy yellow margin. The leaf margins are adorned with small, sharp, dark chocolate-brown marginal teeth and a formidable terminal spine, providing a striking contrast to the creamy edges. This agave remains relatively small, usually reaching about 1-2 feet tall and 2-4 feet wide, making it an excellent choice for smaller spaces, rock gardens, containers, or as a vibrant accent in xeriscapes. While flowering is infrequent, mature plants may send up a branched spike bearing yellow to greenish-yellow flowers. Its vibrant coloration, manageable size, and architectural form make the Cornelius Agave a highly prized specimen for succulent enthusiasts and landscape designers alike.