Sisal, Hemp
Agave sisalana

Family: Asparagaceae

What it is like

A woody herb. It grows for several years. The leaves come out in spirals and have spines. The leaves occur near ground level. The leaves are sword shaped and 2 m long. The leaves end in a sharp dark brown tip. The plant flowers at maturity. The flowers occur in a stem which can be 6-8 m tall. The flowers are small and green to yellow. The fruit is a dry capsule which contains seed. Few seed will grow. Some flower buds become thick and develop into bulbils. These can be planted and will grow. Suckers are produced at the base of the leaves.

There are about 250 Agave species. The Agavaceae are mostly in the tropics and subtropics.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It suits tropical and subtropical places. It grows on a wide range of soils. It can withstand waterlogging and can tolerate drought. It suits hardiness zones 9-11. It does best in gritty, well drained soils and in full sun. It can grow in light shade. It is sensitive to cold. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Anguilla, Asia, Australia, Belize, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cayman Islands, Central Africa, Central America, China, East Africa, East Timor, El Salvador, Eswatini, Fiji, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Hawaii, Honduras, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Kenya, Kiribati, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Mediterranean, Mexico (country/location of origin), Micronesia, Mozambique, Myanmar, North America, Pacific, Pan tropical, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, SE Asia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, St Helena, Swaziland, Tanzania, Timor-Leste, Uganda, USA, Venezuela, West Indies, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The sweet sap is used to make beer. The heart of the new shoots is eaten. The flower stalk can be boiled or roasted.

It is not known if it is used for food in Papua New Guinea.

Edible parts

Leaves, sap, plant heart, flower stalk, vegetable

How it is grown

Plants are normally grown from suckers or from the bulbils on the flower stalk. Mostly very few of the seeds will grow. After flowering the whole plant dies. Flowering normally occurs after 7 years.

The plant is fast growing.

Its other names

Local names

Agave sisal, Khonje, Lafa, Mkonge, Na-nat-shaw, Shikwenga, Te robu, Umugweegwe, Yaxci

Synonyms

Agave amaniensis Trel. & Nowell; Agave rigida Mill. var. sisalana Perr.; Agave segurae D. Guillot & P. Van der Meer; Agave sisalana var. armata Trel.;