Agave nizandensis...before it froze last year!

They go soft when thirsty too. If it has leaves it needs water.

I keep mine dry on the back porch and bring them inside if it freezes...haven't had trouble!

I think your plant is Yucca recurvifolia. It grows a tall stalk (7' or so), and the leaves look just like those in your first picture. It doesn't typically die after flowering, though one of mine did...just started to rot at the top. So, it certainly can happen! They do produce dozens of small offse...

There are some...like A. victoriae-reginae has ridges. But, most that I've seen that have things like that are hybrids. can you post some pictures? I'd just like to see them

How about something like this?

That's potatorum for sure.

I think the first is A. isthmensis and the first "neglected" one is A. weberi.

Hm...well it certainly looks like mechanical damage, and not anything wrong with the plant's health. I once had somebody trip on one of mine in the ground, and a bunch of the leaf tips looked mashed like that.

That's strange...the plant itself looks pretty healthy! Any chance a rodent or insect has been chewing on it?

Ha! On friday we got two inches in half an hour!

Sure looks like it. If I remember correctly, they are both now considered A. cryptopoda, with the red flowered one formerly known as A. wickensii.

A. vilmoriniana will die at -10 without protection, and it's a big plant that's hard to protect. Very fast grower though! Cold and humid means you would likely do well with A. gentryi, A. montana, A. bracteosa...probably a few others I can't think of at the moment.

How cold do you get there in the winter? You probably don't have time before this winter, but many species are hardy and could take the cold...but they still would probably be a little small to put in the ground. A. parryi is a fast-growing, cold-hardy plant, as are many others. A. victoriae-reginae...

Yep, chop it down until the whole inside looks green and fresh. Clean your knife after each cut too! It should resprout and be just fine, if a little ugly for a while. Did it get frozen?

No, they do it all the time, even during drought in habitat (like here). Don't worry about it! If it bugs you or starts to mold, I guess you could rinse it off.