The difference between Tiger Tail Orchid and Agave

1. Tiger tail orchid

It has many nicknames, such as Welwitschia, etc. It is a perennial that can remain green all year round. It belongs to the Agavaceae family. Its roots are creeping on the ground and it has no stems. It can generally grow to about 1 meter, with leaves that grow in clusters and are upright and relatively thick. There are dark green stripes on both sides of the leaves, which are wavy and irregular, like a tiger's tail, hence the name. Its peduncle can grow up to 80cm. The flowers are relatively small, usually white or light green, and fragrant. Many flowers are gathered in a bunch, with one to three bunches clustered on the flower axis. However, it is usually planted at home and it is difficult to see it blooming. People usually appreciate its leaves.

2. Agave

This flower also belongs to the Agavaceae family. It is also a perennial, relatively large plant that can remain green all year round. It is also called dragon tongue palm, and it originated from Mexico. Because its leaves are relatively firm and do not turn yellow all year round, it can be seen in many gardens in the south and is used as decoration. It is often grown in greenhouses in the Yangtze River and areas north of it. It prefers places with good drainage, fertile and relatively moist soil. Even in Mexico, it usually takes decades for it to bloom. After the flowers bloom, it will die. It can only bear fruit if it is pollinated by other flowers.

3. How to distinguish

1. The easiest way is to look at their shapes. The leaves of the latter grow around the stem and then extend outward, forming a rosette shape as a whole. The above-ground part of the former has no stem, and the leaves fall directly to the ground, growing vertically, and the overall shape is a bundle.

2. The former grows upward, but most plants in the same family grow in a fan shape, so the leaves of agave radiate like flowers.

3. The new leaves of the latter are yellow-green, while the new leaves of the former are darker than those of the latter. And the former, just as its name suggests, looks very much like a tiger's tail with some dark green patterns on it. It can only grow one new leaf a year. The new leaves of the latter grow faster, and it only takes one or two months for them to grow from seedlings into a rosette shape.