Native Plants

Plant Database

Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

Enter a Plant Name:
Or you can choose a plant family:

Mathews, Ray

Manfreda sileri

Manfreda sileri Verh-Will.

Siler's Tuberose

Agavaceae (Century-Plant Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: masi

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

Herbaceous member of the agave family with rosette of basal leaves and somewhat woody flowering stalk. Leaves light green to blue green with brownish spots, somewhat succulent (as in other Manfreda species), up to 16 inches long and 2 inches wide. Flowering stalk typically 6-7 feet tall. Flowers yellow and fragrant, with a waxy, greenish tube usually about 1/2 inch long capped by 6 recurved perianth lobes. Stamens exerted at least 11 inches beyond perianth. Growing separately or in colonies, in open areas, on clay soil.

A nice accent plant. Flowers are very unusual.

From the Image Gallery

25 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Cactus/Succulent
Root Type: Fibrous
Leaf Retention: Evergreen
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Leaf Shape: Lanceolate
Leaf Venation: Parallel
Leaf Pubescence: Glabrous
Leaf Margin: Serrulate
Leaf Apex: Acuminate
Leaf Base: Cuneate
Breeding System: Flowers Bisexual
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: Flower scape up to about 7 feet tall.
Leaf: Light green with green or brown spots.
Flower: Flowers to 2 cm long.
Fruit: Seeds black, 2.3-3.1 cm.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Yellow
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr , May , Jun , Jul

Distribution

USA: TX

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Sun , Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry , Moist

Benefit

Use Wildlife: Fragrant flowers emit their fragrance at night attracting moths as pollinators. Finches and sparrows eat seed.
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Fragrant Flowers: yes
Interesting Foliage: yes
Attracts: Birds , Butterflies , Hummingbirds

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Austin, TX

Wildflower Center Seed Bank

LBJWC-1315 Collected 2009-08-21 in Hildago County by Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

1 collection(s) available in the Wildflower Center Seed Bank

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

USDA: Find Manfreda sileri in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Manfreda sileri in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Manfreda sileri

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-02-17
Research By: JSC

Go back