Spaghetti Strap Agave (Agave Geminiflora var ‘Spaghetti Strap’)

Whether you plan to showcase it as a potted indoor specimen plant or as a focal point outdoors, it’s hard to imagine a plant that makes a bolder impression than Agave Geminiflora, the “Spaghetti Strap Agave”. This striking native of Nayarit, Mexico, sports long, thin, rigid leaves that cluster around its central base like the spines on a porcupine, making the plant look much less like a delicious pasta dish and more like the world’s largest, greenest sea urchin. Fortunately, the leaves on Geminiflora are a tad softer than those of most of its relatives, so it’s less likely to show you where the “Aagh!” in agave comes from if you accidentally brush against it (but still, be mindful, especially of the tips).

While most agave plants trend large, Spaghetti Strap Agave is a dwarf, topping out at a mere 2 feet tall and 3 feet wide. Though to be fair, that all changes when an Agave Geminiflora planted outside decides it’s time to bloom. A single spike-like stem rises 8-12 feet into the sky and bursts into countless pairs of greenish-yellow to reddish-purple flowers. Monumental as the flower spike is, we’re pretty sure you’re now gazing suspiciously at your ceiling. Don’t worry—specimens kept indoors almost never bloom. They look impressive enough just as they are.

Characteristics and traits of a Spaghetti Strap Agave (Agave Geminiflora var ‘Spaghetti Strap’)

• Scientific Name: Agave Geminiflora var ‘Spaghetti Strap’
• Genus: Agave
• Family: Asparagaceae
• Common Name: Spaghetti Strap Agave, Pin Cushion Agave, Twin-Flowered Agave
• Indoor: All year round
• Outdoor Zones: 9-11
• Type: Perennial, especially indoors, where it rarely blooms. Outdoors, may produce impressive flower spike when mature (10-12 years) and die, leaving behind viable seeds and (rarely) a cloned offshoot.
• Mature Height: 2’
• Mature Width: 3’
• Plant Height when Shipped: XXXXXX
• Growth Rate: Slow
• Flower: Very rare in indoor plants. Pairs of simple yellow-green flowers on a tall central stalk. Plant typically dies after blooming.
• Foliage: Stiff, slender, upward-facing, dark green leaves with straight, sharp edges and points, which grow in a rosette around the central point.

Plant Care and Advice for Spaghetti Strap Agave (Agave Geminiflora var ‘Spaghetti Strap’)

• Grown In: Inside: all zones year round, Outside: zones 9-11
• Light Requirements: Full sun (preferred) to partial shade.
• Water Requirements: Give infrequent, moderate amounts of water in summer, greatly reduce water during other seasons. Water only when soil is dry and be sure it has excellent drainage.
• Drought Tolerance: High
• Temperature: Comfortable at any indoor room temp. Outdoors, very happy in heat but will start to show cold sensitivity (redder foliage, especially at tips) at temps below 40F. Injured by frost and temperatures below 25F.  
• Air Purification: Good
• Toxicity: Contains oxalates, which can cause skin rashes, irritation, vomiting, and diarrhea in cats.
• Fertilizer: None needed
• Container Friendly: Yes, but requires good drainage
• Planting: Agave Geminiflora var ‘Spaghetti Strap’ is easy to plant and transplant as long as you place it in a sandy, gritty, low-organic-matter soil that drains well, such as standard cactus and succulent mix. Like many arid-climate plants, Spaghetti Strap Agave’s root system is relatively small, simple, and slow-growing. As such, the plant doesn’t need a very large pot and rarely needs repotting.
• Plant Care: Spaghetti Strap Agave requires little care, having evolved to survive in the relatively sparse, rocky woodlands and arroyos of Mexico’s Nayarit area. It thrives in lighting conditions ranging from full sun to medium shade, and unlike many tropical plants, has no problem sitting in direct sunlight for hours. It is susceptible to root rot if allowed to sit in swampy, soggy soil. Choose soil that is sandy and drains well, then allow the topsoil to dry out between waterings. Spaghetti Strap Agave has little need of fertilizer. It also rarely has pest problems, with the occasional exception of the agave snout weevil [Scyphophorus acupunctatus], which is a major pest of other agave varieties. Fun fact: The “worm” often found in the bottom of a tequila bottle is actually an agave weevil larva, which just goes to show you: Do NOT mess with tequila bottlers. They do not play around.
• Expert Advice: Although the leaves of Agave Geminiflora var ‘Spaghetti Strap’ are generally green, they do change color slightly in response to certain environmental stimuli. The most noticeable of these is a notable reddening that starts at the tips and moves toward the leaf base. Attractive though it is, it’s also a sign that the plant is experiencing sub-optimal temperatures, probably 40F or cooler. Too much exposure to sub-freezing temperatures (32F or lower) can result in the loss of the plant. A less threatening color shift happens when the plant lives in lower light conditions and develops a gray-green cast. Interestingly, the leaves of plants kept in shade also tend to be softer than those of plants that live in full sunlight.  Agave Geminiflora var ‘Spaghetti Strap’ is quite challenging to propagate. It’s possible to clone the plant from a leaf cutting that’s been allowed to dry a couple days (so the wound seals) before being placed in loose, sandy soil. But a more successful method might be to wait for the plant to flower and save the seeds, which can be germinated similarly to cactus seeds. Finally, although the plant tends to pass into senescence after blooming, they do on rare occasion bud a small offshoot that roots, separates, and survives the passing of the original plant.

GET FREE SHIPPING when you buy any 3 or more plants!

That's right - As soon as your shopping cart contains any 3 plants, your shipping is FREE! Eligible for ground shipped orders going to the same address only.

More Details...