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| Category: Succulent |
| Family: Agavaceae (now Asparagaceae) |
| Origin: Mexico (North America) |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Bloomtime: Infrequent |
| Synonyms: [A. 'Green Steel', 'Little Shark'] |
| Parentage: (A.macroacantha x A. victoriae-reginae) |
| Height: 1-2 feet |
| Width: 1-2 feet |
| Exposure: Full Sun |
| Summer Dry: Yes |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 20-25° F |
| May be Poisonous (More Info): Yes |
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Agave 'Royal Spine' (Agave macroacantha x victoriae-reginae). A very attractive small to medium-sized agave that grows to 18 inches tall by about 2 feet wide with incredibly uniform clean sharp features and an attractive steely-green color. This plant seems to combine the best traits of the two very attractive species of Agave that were its parents. Like Agave macroacantha this plant has narrow outwardly radiating leaves and a dark terminal spine and, like its other parent, Agave victoriae-reginae, this plant has chiseled dark edges lacking spines on the margins. The leaves are thicker than typical Agave macroacantha but not triangular like Agave victoriae-reginae. Plant in full sun in a well-drained soil and irrigate only occaisionally. This plant has not been in cultivation long enough to know its temperature tolerances but it should be at least as hardy as its parents, tolerating temperatures down to around 20 F. or less. Beautiful in the garden and also makes a great potted specimen. There is some disagreement on this plant's origins. One story is that it was reportedly discovered at Tropic World, the famed nursery of Paul Hutchinson in north county San Diego and another is that it came from a controlled breeding program at the nearby Rancho Soledad Nursery. To our knowledge a valid name had not been published for this beautiful plant and so we applied the name 'Royal Spine' to it in reference to its two parents; Agave macroacantha's specific epithet is latin for "large spine" and Agave victoriae-reginae was named for that most famous royal, Queen Victoria. We have also seen internet listings with the fitting name of 'Green Steel' for this plant and it may be the same plant marketed as 'Little Shark'. We thank Allen Repashy for sharing this plant with us.
This information about Agave 'Royal Spine' displayed is based on research conducted in our horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also will relate observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments that we receive from others and we welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share any cultural information that would aid others in growing it.
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