Genus Agave is composed of 275 species that occur in the arid and semi-arid regions from the south-western USA, Mexico, Central America and the West Indies. All species share thick, meaty, succulent-type spiny-edged leaves which are produced in the form of rosettes.  Most agaves are monocarpic succulents (they flower once and then die). They have funnel-shaped flowers in racemes or panicles often much taller than the rosettes.

Agave salmiana is a perennial, evergreen, large rosetting succulent, belonging to Asparagaceae family. It is native to central and southern Mexico, found in highlands. It is also naturalized in South Africa, Spain and in the Canary Islands. Plant is also known as “The Green Giant” for its large size.

The maguey (Agave) is used to produce nutritious pulque beverage called Maguey de Pulque. Salmiana comes from the name of Joseph zu Salm-Reifferscheidt-Dyck, who was the German prince and botanist .

Giant Agave is a medium to large sized species reaching up to 2-3 metres tall by twice as wide, forming ample suckers which can lead to a large colony if suckers are not removed. It is a distinct looking plant recognizable by its broad fleshy, and well-armed, dark grey green leaves. Leaves are 1-2 m x 20-35 cm, broadly linear, lanceolate to oblanceolate, narrowed towards the base. Marginal spines greyish brown, 1-2 cm long.

When Agave salmiana matures and blooms the tall candelabra inflorescence rises to over 6 metres, bearing yellow flowers that attract birds and bees. Under right condition plant bloom at least 10 years of age but maturity may take up to 25 years. Panicle broad, with 15-20 large loose umbels in upper half of shaft. Flowers, coarsely fleshy 8-11 cm long, frequently flushed reddish in the bud but opening yellow or greenish yellow. Like most agaves, the species is monocarpic, it only flowers once and then die.

One specimen growing at the Strawberry Canyon Botanical Garden on the campus of U. C. Berkeley, California in 1974 produced an inflorescence with a total height of 16 m. Giant Agave has reached an overall height of 19 m, making her having the tallest inflorescence of any known species of plant.

Agave salmiana prefers full sun and well-drained slightly acidic, sandy, or gravely soil. It tolerates poor soil and drought.  Plant can be propagated from seed or dividing offsets at the base of the mother plant.  Plant can be hardy to -15° C at dry condition.

There are many varieties and cultivars of Agave salmiana such as Agave salmiana var. crassispina which has fewer, more narrow leaves and Agave salmiana var. ferox which has wider leaves that recurve inward. This variety have, hard and long 4-8 cm long spines.

Use in Landscape: Giant Agave is often used in modern landscaping. Plant is usually cultivated outdoors in rock gardens, in cactus and succulent gardens, in Mediterranean-style landscapes, in borders, or as a specimen. As an ornamental it is also grown in containers which stays much smaller than the garden specimens. It can be used to stabilise a slope.

The sap of Agave salmiana often extracted from the inflorescence bud is used in the fermentation of an alcoholic drink called pulque. Apart from Agave salmiana, Agave americana, Agave atrovirens, Agave ferox, Agave mapisaga, most used for pulque production. These species are also known as “Maguey Pulquero.”