Although a relatively small agave, the Queen Victoria agave, Agave victoriae-reginae, is also one of the most striking. Mature plants form dense foliar rosettes that are between only a foot, and a foot and a half tall and wide. What is so striking about them is the abundance of stout succulent leaves that can be so densely set that some older plants look like big, round and green pine cones.
Genetic variability within the species is considerable though; so not all plants will be so well rounded. Some resemble dark green aloes while young. All are adorned with distinctive white stripes on leaf margins, and wherever the leaves were touching the margins of other leaves before they unfurled. At least one cultivar is also variegated with white, and another is variegated with yellow.
Queen Victoria agave is bold either in the ground or in a large pot. Wherever it goes, it wants full sun exposure, and should be out of the way. The terminal foliar spines are very sharp! It does not need much water, but prefers occasional watering. Old rosettes might bloom with tiny pale white flowers on dramatic three or four foot tall spikes, but then die as they get replaced by basal pups.
Tony Tomeo 
The American Agave has become naturalized here and is invasive in our province. Some of the local names it has been given are very varied: http://pza.sanbi.org/agave-americana
LikeLiked by 1 person
ICK! That is a nasty plant to mess with even on a good day! It would be horrible to try to dig them up. They are so dangerous and heavy!
LikeLike
I love growing agave. I don’t have this type though. I have wanted to make syrup from them. Have you ever tried! Or do you know someone who has?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I never tried because I do not like the flavor. I prefer maple. I do not know of anyone else who has either. They are a valuable commodity. When I must get rid of agaves, they get canned and grown to go into new landscapes later.
LikeLike
A lovely structural plant and apart from its spiky tops, very accommodating in any position
LikeLiked by 1 person
Agaves are not easy to accommodate because of their spikes; but this one is somewhat compact, so does not take up much space.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have a lot of the agave attenuate in my garden. No spikes on their leaves
LikeLiked by 1 person
That happens to be one of my favorite, but it does not grow here. It does quite well in Southern California.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is the first time I’ve heard of the species, which I see is native to Mexico. The picture at
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agave_victoriae-reginae
makes clear what you said about “green pine cones.”
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, they look like something from another planet.
LikeLike