False Sisal aka Florida Agave

(Agave decipiens)

False Sisal plants are endemic to coastal southern peninsular Florida. You do not want to bump into this plant accidentally because the points of the leaves are very sharp. They get 5- 8 feet tall. This is not the “century plant” Agave Americana that can get up to 12 feet. It can be distinguished from non-native agave by its bare basal trunk. It only blooms once after about 7 years. Before it dies, smaller plants known as “pups” may emerge around the mother plant. The juice, sap, and thorns can cause a skin rash or irritation.

Information Provided by the Friends of Barefoot Beach Preserve
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