On our island they grow like weeds and nowadays are considered an invasive weed.
In the past the Majoreros (island born islanders going back multiple generations) used them for various purposes:
- scaffold poles
- ladders
- rope (the fibres make a really good strong rope and this was a big industry here for many years)
- roofing (laying multiple poles side by side over cross supports, layer of clay like stuff over the top)
- fencing
- Christmas trees! With a lack of traditional trees on the island the islanders cut off the top section, dry it, paint it and then decorate with tinsel and baubles.
- an alcoholic drink (not tequila)
- wild bird perches/roosts, especially for the ravens.
- the spikes on the ends of the leaves were used as awls and needles for industrial craft and medicinal!
a lot of the agaves get top heavy and the whole plant blows over in our strong winds pulling the roots out of the ground as well. Loads of the plantlets fall into the rough ground this creates and when we do get a bit of rain, perhaps once every couple of years
they all start growing like mad. (This year we have had 1mm of rain so far!)
Plant lifespan here is about 5-7 years before they get their one and only spike.
I won't have them in my garden and avoid them on dog walks as my previous dog (a little Westie) lost an eye after it ulcerated after getting pricked by one of the spikes on the ends of the leaves.
( There are a few plants that are difficult to avoid on our walks because they are outside neighbour's properties but I go out with a few corks in my pocket, ready drilled with a hole in the end, and push them onto the spikes. My Spanish neighbours thought I was totally loopy to start with but now they do it themselves to save injuries to their children and pets and their own legs!
) Surprisingly I didn't put on excess weight.
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