Mauritius Hemp Plant information
Widely grown as a garden plant for many years Furcraea foetida or as it is commonly known ‘Mautitius Hemp’ grows very well in coastal areas and has become naturalised in some locations.
Grown for the architectural nature of the foliage, this is an evergreen perennial with lance or sword shaped foliage.
Reaching up 2m in height with a 2m spread the foliage is a variegated creamy white and green, mainly paler tones. Foliage is fairly stiff and upright, however it spread nicely to form an attractive shape. Excellent in the ground and well as when grown in containers as a feature plant.
Over time it forms a nice rounded clump and being a succulent is drought tolerant once established.
How To Grow Furcraea foetida – Basic Care
Maintenance is low, a single application of slow release fertiliser in spring is adequate when grown in the ground, twice yearly when grown in containers.
Prune away old dead foliage as required.
It is not a cold tolerant plant and does not like frosts, however many specimens are found growing in cool climates in protected positions.
Varieties
The variety F. foetida ‘Medio Picta’ is a variegated form, reaching around 1 m in height and perhaps the most popular of all. The foliage has no spikes or is ‘unarmed’ , which makes it suitable for planting in foot traffic areas.
Furcraea ‘Mautitius Hemp’ species including foetida, selloa, gigantea and bedinghausii. Sometimes called false Agave or Mauritius Hemp these drought hardy plants are a great foliage plant that will send up tall flower spikes.
Furcraea foetida and Furcraea gigantea are sometimes growing to approximately 1m. Furcraea are a drought tolerant plant that make a great addition to tropical or ‘balinese style gardens’. Furcraea selloa and Furcraea bedinghausii are other species worth considering
Furcraea foetida Landscaping Uses
Growing well in full sun to part shade it has a range of applications in commercial landscaping, used as a feature plant as well as for mass plantings.
Where To Buy
52 Rodd St Canowindra NSW 2804
An online nursery specialising in drought and frost tolerant perennials and fragrant, edible and herbs.
www.perennialle.com.au
Wholesale Growers Include
111 Stanhope Road Theresa Park NSW 2570
Offering a variety of sun hardy Australian natives and exotic trees, shrubs, groundcover's and perennials from semi advanced through to super advanced and semi-mature stock.
www.downesnursery.com.au
RORAIMA NURSERY
20 Swan Street, Lara, Vic. 3212 Contact: Ph/Fax: (03) 5282 8704
Mail Order and Retail NurseryCacti and succulents. Wide range of trees, palms, ferns, shrubs & perennials.