The sisal plant has a 7- to 10-year lifespan and typically produces 200–250 commercially usable leaves. Each leaf contains around 1000 fibres. The fibres account for only about 4% of the plant by weight. Sisal is considered a plant of the tropics and subtropics, since production benefits from temperatures above 25°C (77°F) and sunshine. [6]

In the 19th century, sisal cultivation spread to Florida, the Caribbean islands, and Brazil (Paraiba and Bahia), as well as to countries in Africa, notably Tanzania and Kenya, and Asia. Sisal reportedly "came to Africa from Florida, through the mechanism of a remarkable German botanist, by the name of Hindorf." [8] Ingram, Aleah (2019-04-01). "Church to Replace All "Scratchy" Meetinghouse Wall Coverings". LDS Daily . Retrieved 2023-11-07.Fibre is extracted by a process known as decortication, where leaves are crushed, beaten, and brushed away by a rotating wheel set with blunt knives, so that only fibres remain. Alternatively, in East Africa, where production is typically on large estates, [11] [12] the leaves are transported to a central decortication plant, where water is used to wash away the waste parts of the leaves. [13]

Sisal is a valuable forage for honeybees because of its long flowering period. It is particularly attractive to them during pollen shortage. The honey produced, however, is dark and has a strong and unpleasant flavour. [21] [ full citation needed] Sisal farming initially led to environmental degradation, but it is now considered less damaging than other farming types. It is an invasive species in Hawaii and Florida.a b "Food and Agricultural commodities production / Countries by commodity". fao.org. FAOSTAT. Archived from the original on 28 July 2016 . Retrieved 17 May 2022. Perrine, Henry. Tropical Plants - 25th Congres, 2d session [Rep. no. 564] Ho. of Reps. Dr. Henry Perrine 8, 9, 16, 47, 60, 86. 1838. ashmae (2016-05-27). "#TexturesofMormonism". By Common Consent, a Mormon Blog . Retrieved 2023-11-07. An unofficial coat of arms for the Mexican state of Yucatán features a deer bounding over a sisal plant. [27] In literature [ edit ]