Leuchtenbergia principis | Agave cactus
€79,50
Leuchtenbergia principis Hook.
🌱 Morphology
One of the most unmistakable cacti: its cylindrical stem develops a rosette of long triangular, glaucous tubercles that resemble Agave leaves, which can reach 10–12 cm in length. Each tubercle ends in a woolly areole provided with papery, thin, and flexible spines, generally 8–14 radial and 1–2 central, the latter occasionally much longer. The lower tubercles age, dry out, and eventually detach, leaving a bare, corky trunk. It possesses a powerful taproot, which is why it requires sufficiently deep containers. It can reach about 50–70 cm in height, although smaller, very slow-growing specimens are the norm in cultivation.
🌍 Distribution, habitat and family
Endemic to central and northeastern Mexico, within the Chihuahuan Desert, mainly on rocky limestone hillsides and plains, at an altitude of 1,500 to 2,000 m. It is found in Coahuila, Durango, Guanajuato, Hidalgo, Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí, Tamaulipas, and Zacatecas. It is the only species in the genus Leuchtenbergia, belonging to the Cactaceae family, tribe Cacteae. Its extraordinary resemblance to a small agave is responsible for its common name, "agave cactus."
❄️ Temperature · USDA Zone 9a
It tolerates minimum temperatures of up to −7 ºC when kept dry and with well-acclimated specimens. Protection against humidity during cold spells is especially important due to its thick taproot.
☀️ Lighting
It needs direct sun and very intense radiation to keep the tubercles compact, glaucous, and properly triangular. During active growth, a DLI PAR of 20–30 mol·m⁻²·day⁻¹ is recommended as a reference.
💧 Growth cycle and irrigation
Winter dormancy. It should be kept practically dry during the winter, especially at low temperatures. From spring to early autumn, it can be watered deeply once the substrate is completely dry. During the formation of flower buds, it may need a little more water, but always with fast drainage. Excess humidity is one of the main causes of specimen loss.
🌸 Flowering
Mature specimens produce large yellow, scented, and bell-shaped or infundibuliform flowers, approximately 5–8 cm in diameter, which emerge near the young tubercles and open during the day. Some references describe pinkish or reddish shades on the outer perianth segments. After flowering, smooth green fruits are formed, which become dry when ripe and contain numerous large, dark seeds.
🌿 Nutrition
During the active growth period, a fertilizer with a high content of assimilable calcium and low nitrogen levels, such as Desert CHOICE® Cactáceas, is recommended, applied once a month when watering. Before flowering, it can be supplemented with Desert CHOICE® Floración.
This is an inimitable xerophyte grown in Madrid in a technological square pot, with the substrate activated with mycorrhizal fungi and biofungicides.
📏 Gourmet xerophyte in a 10x10 cm, 12x12 cm, and 14x14 cm pot
* As this is an online purchase, the appearance of the sent specimen may vary slightly from the product image. The photo description specifies the plant measurements, but this can also vary slightly, because, after all, it is a living being! Each Desert CITY plant has unique characteristics.
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