A perennial succulent, forming a dense rosette of narrow, needle-tipped leaves with lots of fine, thread-like, curly white filaments along the edges. In late summer mature plants produce a tall spike of paired, yellow-green flowers
0.5-1 metres
0.5-1 metres
| Season | Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | ||||
| Summer | ||||
| Autumn | ||||
| Winter |
Grow in well drained soil in a warm, sheltered spot in full sun. Water freely in summer and apply a balanced liquid fertiliser 3-4 times in the growing season. Keep almost dry in winter. Plants typically take 10-15 years to flower. Provide winter protection, or grow in a container and overwinter in a greenhouse or conservatory. See hardy cacti and succulent cultivation for further information
Propagate by seed. Plants are monocarpic (they die after flowering) and rarely produce offsets
No pruning required
May be susceptible to scale insects
Generally disease-free