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Summary

Physical Characteristics

Agave murpheyi is an evergreen Perennial growing to 1 m (3ft 3in) by 1 m (3ft 3in) at a slow rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 7.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil. The plant can tolerate maritime exposure.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

No synonyms are recorded for this name.

Habitats

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Apical bud
Edible Uses:

Edible Portion: Heart, Growing tip. Agave murpheyi was cultivated by the Hohokam and possibly other Native Americans for both food and fiber. For food the basal rosette was harvested just before the Hohokam agave sent up a flower stalk. At this time the concentration of sugars in the rosette is at its highest The rosettes weighing about 4 kg were cooked for two or three days in a pit filled with hot stones and covered with hot coals and dirt. The baked rosette compared in taste to a sweet potato (although containing inedible fiber) is nutritious with 347 calories and 3.5 grams of protein per 100 grams. Carbon Farming Solutions - Staple Crop: basic starch (The term staple crop typically refers to a food that is eaten routinely and accounts for a dominant part of people's diets in a particular region of the world) [1-1].

References More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.

None Known

References More on Medicinal Uses

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An important new book from PFAF. It focuses on the attributes of plants suitable for food forests, what each can contribute to a food forest ecosystem, including carbon sequestration, and the kinds of foods they yield. The book suggests that community and small-scale food forests can provide a real alternative to intensive industrialised agriculture, and help to combat the many inter-related environmental crises that threaten the very future of life on Earth.

Other Uses

A good potted plant. An excellent garden landscape plants. Accent Plant.

Special Uses

Carbon Farming

References More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Historic Crop Management: Standard Staple Crop: Basic Starch

Climate: warm temperate, tropical highlands. Humidity: arid to semi-arid. Grow it in porous soil with adequate drainage. It should be grown in full sun. The leaves will keep their blue-gray colour and the plants will stay more compact. Water thoroughly when soil is dry to the touch, with supplemental water during hottest part of year. In winter watering this plant can be done once every 1-2 months, there is no need to mist the leaves. It is a cold hardy species. Agave murpheyi grows at elevations from 400 to 900 meters. Agave was cultivated by the Hohokam Indians in southern Arizona and northern Sonora, Mexico in rocky areas above the floodplain of the Santa Cruz river where more water-dependent crops were grown. The Hohokam planted agave in rockpiles about 5 ft (1.5 m) across and 2 ft (0.61 m) high. The pile of rocks around the base of the agave plant act as a mulch to help preserve moisture and prevent rodent predation. Hardy to at least -12° C. Carbon Farming Solutions - Cultivation: historic crop. Management: standard (Describes the non-destructive management systems that are used in cultivation) [1-1].

Carbon Farming

Historic Crop These crops were once cultivated but have been abandoned. The reasons for abandonment may include colonization, genocide, market pressures, the arrival of superior crops from elsewhere, and so forth.
Management: Standard Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.
Staple Crop: Basic Starch The Carbon Farming Solution. Eric Toensmeier.

References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Propagation

Propagation from offshoots is the fastest and most reliable method of agave plant production. Agave are difficult to grow from seed. Seeds readily germinate but seedling establishment is rare. Temperatures exceeding 95 °F (35 °C), however, decrease germination percentages.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Hohokam Agave, Murphey Agave, Murphey’s Century Plant, Spanish (Español): Maguey Bandeado, Maguey

Native Plant Search

Search over 900 plants ideal for food forests and permaculture gardens. Filter to search native plants to your area. The plants selected are the plants in our book 'Plants For Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens, as well as plants chosen for our forthcoming related books for Tropical/Hot Wet Climates and Mediterranean/Hot Dry Climates. Native Plant Search

Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

North America, USA. Southern-central Arizona (U.S.A., Northern America) from the Bradshaw and New River Mountains, east to the Sierra Ancha Mountains and northern Sonora desert (Mexico).

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so itâ€™s worth checking.

None Known

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : This taxon has not yet been assessed

Related Plants

Latin Name	Common Name	Habit	Height	Hardiness	Growth	Soil	Shade	Moisture	Edible	Medicinal	Other
Agave americana	Agave, American century plant	Perennial	7.5	8-11	S	LM	N	DM	3	3	3
Agave cantala agave	Agave	Perennial	2.0	9-12	F	LMH	N	DM	2	0	4
Agave fourcroydes	Henequen	Perennial	1.8	10-12	M	LMH	N	DM	0	1	3
Agave lechuguilla	Ixtle, Chihuahua	Perennial	0.6	10-12	M	LMH	N	DM	1	2	4
Agave parryi	Century Plant, Parry's agave, Mescal	Perennial	0.5	9-11	S	LM	N	DM	3	1	2
Agave salmiana	Pulque Agave, Giant Agave	Perennial	2.0	9-11	M	LMH	N	DM	3	0	2
Agave sisalana	Sisal	Perennial	2.0	9-11	F	LMH	SN	DM	2	2	4
Agave tequilana	Blue Agave, Mescal, Tequila.	Perennial	2.0	10-12	M	LMH	N	D	4	0	3
Agave utahensis discreta	Century Plant	Perennial	4.0	8-11		LM	N	DM	3	1	2
Agave utahensis eborispina	Century Plant	Perennial	4.0	8-11		LM	N	DM	3	1	2
Agave vivipara	Mescal Casero	Perennial	1.0	10-12	M	LMH	N	DM	3	0	3

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

Agave murpheyi - Gibson

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Summary

Physical Characteristics

Synonyms

Habitats

Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Now available: PLANTS FOR YOUR FOOD FOREST: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens.

Other Uses

Special Uses

Cultivation details

Carbon Farming

Temperature Converter

The PFAF Bookshop

Propagation

Other Names

Native Plant Search

Found In

Weed Potential

Conservation Status

Expert comment

Author

Botanical References

Links / References

Readers comment

Plant Uses

Content

PFAF Newsletter


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