Native Plants
![](../_images/smarty_plants.gif)
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
![](../_images/mr_smarty_plants_logo_web_200w.jpg)
rate this answer
![](../_images/star_10.gif)
Monday - April 29, 2013
From: Pacific Plsds, CA
Region: California
Topic: Invasive Plants, Cacti and Succulents
Title: Runaway Agave Americana from Pacific Palisades CA
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
We live near open space on Santa Monica Mountain State Park. Our Association planted non-native, invasive Agave Americanas all over the adjacent slopes, and we are trying to get the exploding pups and forest of mature ones removed, or controlled. Three are now sending up stalks. Can we prevent seeding if we remove the individual flower stalks before they dry and split open? The rhizomes are bad enough, but seeds could more easily spread to our precious park land. I'd much appreciate some advice. Thank you for all you do. We have seen Mrs. Johnson's works in our, and other states. Jill BowmanANSWER:
We don't quite know how to tell you this, but not only is Agave americana (American century plant) native to California but, according to this USDA Plant Profile Map, it is also native to Riverside and San Diego Counties, which is close enough to be considered native to the area. We found no indications that it was considered invasive, but you might want to read this Dave's Garden Forum page with several negative comments on the dangers of trying to remove it.
In answer to your question on taking down the bloom stalk before it seeds out, you can certainly do so, but you will miss quite a show if you don't let the bloom stand for a while. And, the plant is going to die anyway. Century Plants live for from 8 to 40 years (not a century) before they bloom and, once they have bloomed, they die. They have been storing up the energy to reproduce all those years and then they are done.
You didn't say what Association planted the agaves, but if they are on State Park land, it would be up to the management of that park to determine whether they were to be removed and how it was to be done.
Here are links to some previous Mr. Smarty Plants answers on removing an agave:
Bottom line: Cutting down and destroying the blooming stalk will certainly prevent seeding any more agaves, but the pups around those plants are the main source of propagation for the plant. Attacking any of those projects means attacking the mature plants, which is going to be plenty tough.
From the Image Gallery
More Invasive Plants Questions
Dandelions in bluebonnets in Bastrop TX
May 31, 2012 - I have a 20'x60' front yard area where I planted bluebonnets. It has become horrifically inundated with dandelions.
How do I eradicate the dandelions while preserving the bluebonnets ?
Thanks ...
view the full question and answer
Fast growing, possibly invasive trees for South Carolina
July 12, 2007 - What fast growing trees would you suggest for South Carolina? We are heavy clay and the pecan trees we planted don't see to be too happy here. We are looking at the yellow poplar and the empress tre...
view the full question and answer
Adding Wildflowers to Corpus Christi
May 20, 2012 - I have a dry sandy yard, full sun in Corpus Christi with lot's of stickers mostly, want to transform to wildflowers. When should I plant, how should I prepare soil, should I dig out stickers? Which w...
view the full question and answer
Eradicating sumac in Burnet, TX
February 05, 2009 - I have several varieties of sumac on my property. I need to know how to get rid of it. When I cut it down it seems to come back in force.
view the full question and answer
Is Jerusalem thorn native to Central Texas?
July 17, 2009 - I was reading about Retama (Parkinsonia aculeata) which is native to South America and naturalized throughout Texas and the southern US. I also read that it is considered an invasive plant species in...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |