Royal Gold: Agave victoriae-reginae 'Kizan'

A masterpiece of living geometry featuring luminous yellow variegation that ranks among the most coveted succulent treasures.

Colour changes with light duration and intensity.

1. Origin & History of Name: The species was named in 1875 by botanist Thomas Moore in honor of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom. The cultivar name 'Kizan' is Japanese, often associated with "Brilliant Mountain," reflecting the high level of selection and refinement achieved by Japanese horticulturists who stabilized this specific variegated form.
2. Morphology: This slow-growing succulent forms a dense, globose rosette of rigid, deep-green leaves. It is distinguished by its marginal variegation, where the leaf edges are painted with broad, creamy-yellow bands. A unique feature is the white bud printing—distinctive longitudinal lines on the epidermis caused by the pressure of adjacent leaves before they unfurl. Unlike many Agaves, it lacks marginal teeth but terminates in a sharp, dark terminal spine.
   
   
3. Habitat & Origin: This is a highly stable cultivar of a species originally endemic to the Chihuahuan Desert and the Sierra Madre Oriental mountains of Mexico. This specific 'Kizan' variety was developed through intensive selective breeding in Japan. Our stock is produced via micro-propagation or offsets, ensuring a sustainable alternative to the poaching of wild Agave victoriae-reginae, which is an endangered species.
4. Cultivation Profile:
   • Substrate: Requires an open, mineral-based mix (e.g., 60% volcanic rock or crushed brick, 20% coarse sand, and 20% compost). Excellent drainage is mandatory to survive the Indian monsoon.
   • Light: Thrives in filtered bright light. In the Indian subcontinent, avoid direct afternoon sun during peak summer (March–June) to prevent the yellow variegated sectors from bleaching or burning.
   • Water/Dormancy: Water thoroughly only when the medium is bone-dry. During the high-humidity monsoon months, reduce watering frequency significantly. In North Indian winters, enter a dry dormancy period to protect the root system from cold-damp rot.
5. Scientific/Historical Anecdote: Agave victoriae-reginae is "monocarpic," meaning it spends 20 to 30 years growing into a perfect geometric sphere only to bloom once with a massive flower spike up to 15 feet tall, after which the mother plant dies. Because the 'Kizan' cultivar grows even slower than the green species, a mature specimen is often considered a multi-decade investment and a legacy plant for collectors.