Life Span
Annual
  
Perennial
  
Type
Vegetable
  
Cactus or Succulent
  
Origin
Mexico, Caribbean, Central America
  
Mexico
  
Types
Green Tomatillo, Purple Tomatillo
  
Agave americana subsp. americana
Agave americana subsp. protamericana Gentry
Agave americana var. expansa (Jacobi) Gentry
Agave americana var. oaxacensis Gentry
  
Number of Varieties
Not Available
  
Habitat
Cultivated Beds
  
Desert, Hardwood forests, Hillside, Humid climates, Rocky Ridges, wastelands
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
6-9
  
8-11
  
AHS Heat Zone
12*1
  
12-5
  
Sunset Zone
A3, H1, H2, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
H1, H2, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
Habit
Oval/Rounded
  
Clump-Forming
  
Plant Size
  
  
Minimum Height
Not Available
  
Minimum Width
Not Available
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
Yellow, Sandy Brown
  
Yellow green
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Not Available
  
Fruit Color
Green, Purple, Yellow green
  
Tan
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
  
Blue Green, Gray Green, Slate Gray, Gray
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
  
Blue Green, Gray Green, Slate Gray, Gray
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
  
Blue Green, Gray Green, Slate Gray, Gray
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Not Available
  
Blue Green, Gray Green, Slate Gray, Gray
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Lance shaped
  
Long linear and narrow
  
Thorns
No
  
Yes
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun
  
Full Sun
  
Growth Rate
Very Fast
  
Medium
  
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Loam, Sand
  
The pH of Soil
Neutral
  
Acidic, Neutral
  
Soil Drainage
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
  
Summer
  
Repeat Bloomer
Yes
  
No
  
Tolerances
Drought
  
Not Available
  
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground
  
Ground, Pot
  
How to Plant?
Seedlings
  
Seedlings
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs
  
Do not water frequently, Does not require lot of watering, Water occasionally
  
In Summer
Drought Tolerant, Average Water
  
Lots of watering
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Moderate
  
In Winter
Average Water
  
Average Water
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Neutral
  
Acidic, Neutral
  
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Loam, Sand
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
  
Full Sun
  
Pruning
Remove all suckers, Remove wet foliage
  
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
  
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
Pests and Diseases
Fungal Diseases
  
Red blotch
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought
  
Drought
  
Flowers
Insignificant
  
Showy
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
Yes
  
No
  
Edible Fruit
Yes
  
No
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
No
  
Yes
  
Fragrant Fruit
Yes
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
No
  
Yes
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Medium
  
Bold
  
Foliage Sheen
Matte
  
Matte
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
Sometimes
  
Sometimes
  
Self-Sowing
Yes
  
No
  
Attracts
Birds, Flea beetles
  
Birds
  
Allergy
Arthritis, Inflammation
  
Skin irritation
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Not Used For Aesthetic Purpose
  
Showy Purposes
  
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
Yes
  
Yes
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification
  
Air purification
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Cancer, Diabetes, Energy, Opthalmic
  
constipation, Gastrointestinal disorders
  
Part of Plant Used
Fruits
  
Leaves, Sap, Seeds, Stem
  
Other Uses
Used for making green salsas and chilli sauce, Used in salads
  
Pulp can be used to make rope place mats and other goods, Used in making beverages
  
Used As Indoor Plant
No
  
No
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Edible, Herb / Vegetable
  
Container, Feature Plant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall
  
Botanical Name
PHYSALIS philadelphica
  
AGAVE americana
  
Common Name
Green Tomato, Mexican Groundcherry, Tomatillo
  
Century plant
Maguey
American aloe
  
In Hindi
Tomatillos
  
अमेरिकी रामबांस
  
In German
Tomatillos
  
amerikanische Agave
  
In French
Tomatilles
  
Agave américaine
  
In Spanish
Tomatillos
  
Agave americana
  
In Greek
Tomatillos
  
American αγαύη
  
In Portuguese
Tomatillos
  
Agave americana
  
In Polish
Tomatillos
  
Amerykański Agawa
  
In Latin
Tomatillos
  
American Agave
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
  
Not Available
  
Class
Magnoliopsida
  
Liliopsida
  
Order
Solanales
  
Asparagales
  
Family
Solanaceae
  
Agavaceae
  
Genus
Physalis
  
Agave
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
  
Angiosperms, Monocots
  
Tribe
Physaleae
  
Not Available
  
Subfamily
Solanoideae
  
Agavoideae
  
Number of Species
Not Available