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Agave spp.

century plants

Asparagaceae Americas, centered in Mexico

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Hummingbirds Deer Resistant Drought Tolerant Container Friendly

Native to North America

SunFull Sun

WaterVery Low · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 8–11

Overview

Agave spp. is a genus of about 270 species of evergreen, succulent, rosette-forming plants in the family Asparagaceae, native to the Americas and centered in Mexico. The plants form symmetrical rosettes of thick, fibrous, water-storing leaves 1 to 6 feet (0.3 to 1.8 m) tall and wide, with most species edged in sharp marginal teeth and tipped with a stiff terminal spine. Leaf color spans gray-green, blue-green, and forms with variegated cream or yellow margins. Agaves are monocarpic: a rosette grows for 8 to 30 years, then sends up a tall flowering stalk 10 to 40 feet (3 to 12 m) high bearing yellow to greenish panicles, after which that rosette dies while offsets at its base continue. Agave spp. grows in USDA zones 8 to 11, with a few species hardier, and tolerates intense heat, drought, and poor soil. The terminal spines and toothed margins make placement near walkways hazardous, and the sap can irritate skin.

Native Range

Native to the Americas, with the greatest diversity in Mexico and additional species in the southwestern United States, Central America, the Caribbean, and northern South America. Agaves grow in deserts, scrub, and on rocky slopes.

Suggested Uses

Used in xeriscape and gravel gardens, rockeries, coastal plantings, and large containers, and grown as architectural specimens in arid landscapes. Smaller species are kept as houseplants in bright light. The spines limit placement near paths, seating, and play areas.

How to Identify

Identified by symmetrical rosettes of thick, rigid, succulent leaves, most bearing teeth along the margins and a sharp spine at the tip. A mature plant produces a single tall flowering stalk with branched or spike-like clusters of tubular yellow to green flowers, then the flowered rosette dies. The stiff, spine-tipped leaves separate Agave spp. from softer-leaved rosette succulents such as Aloe spp..

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height1' - 6'

Width/Spread1' - 10'

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~4 weeks

Summer

Each rosette flowers only once, after 8 to 30 years of growth depending on the species, sending up a tall stalk in summer. The flowering stalk and its panicles persist for several weeks before the rosette declines. Offsets around the base flower in later years.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

yellow to greenish

Foliage Description

gray-green to blue-green, sometimes variegated

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun

Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range6.0 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

sand rocky loam

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Very Low

Time to Maturity

8-30 years to flowering

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grows in full sun in sharply drained sandy or rocky soil, and tolerates heat, drought, and salt. Wet soil and shade cause rot and weak growth, so drainage is the main requirement. Watering is needed only during establishment and in extended drought, and most species survive on rainfall in arid and semi-arid climates. Cold tolerance varies by species, from USDA zone 8 for many to colder limits for a few. No fertilizer is needed in lean soils. Offsets can be removed to control spread and to propagate new plants.

Pruning

Pruning is limited to removing dead lower leaves and the spent flowering stalk after a rosette finishes blooming. Offsets are cut or dug from the base to manage clump size. The terminal spines and toothed margins make this work hazardous, and the sap can irritate skin.