Agave

( uh - GAH - vay )

At-A-Glance Information

Agave is a genus of succulent perennials grown for their beautiful fleshy leaves. Many species have toothed leaves and a sharp terminal point. The various species in this genus have myriad habits, shapes, and growth patterns. Flowers on these plants are held at the end of long stems or along the main stalk. After flowering, the rosette will fade and die, leaving behind suckers that form new plants. Agaves will plump up with water, and wither without. They need good drainage and many are native to Mexico, though some also hail from the Americas and Caribbean. Many species of Agave are monocarpic, meaning they will die after producing their flower stalk. 

Agave Species and Varietals

Agave belongs to the family Agavaceae, which makes it relatives of plants such as Dracaena, Yucca, and Ponytail Palm. The genus name Agave comes from the Ancient Greek 'aguae', meaning illustrious or noble, referring to the tall flower spikes that they produce. The genus was first formally described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753, originally with just four identified species. It now includes over 200, which vary in color, shape, size, habit and culture. Agave growing zones vary by species; read the descriptions below for more information. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

​Agave americana (Century Plant, Maguey, American Aloe)
Grows best in zones 10, 12-24, H1 and H2. This is a popular species, with blue-green leaves that can get to 6 feet long. There are hooked spines along the leaf margins, and a sharp spine at the tip. This species is difficult to remove once mature, so make sure that you're in for the long-haul with this formidable plant! After 10 or more years, a stalk with yellow-green flowers will appear. Varieties of this species are available with yellow or cream striped leaves, for example Agave americana 'Mediopicta Alba' (which has a broad central stripe of creamy white).

Agave amica (Polianthes tuberosa) (Tuberose)
This perennial flowering plant is widely grown as an ornamental. Extracts from this plant are used in perfumery, and flowers are used in cooking and to make leis. These herbaceous plants grow from underground tuber and produce dull green leaves. White waxy flowers bloom atop a three foot tall spike. Cultivar 'The Pearl' has double flowers. This species is native to northern Mexico.

Agave angustifolia (Caribbean Agave)
This species is native to Mexico and Central America, and is used to make mezcal. They are also commonly grown as ornamental plants in landscapes. This species is very similar to Agave tequilana, the plant used to make the liquor tequila. Cultivar 'Marginata' has white leaf margins and is popularly cultivated.

Agave attenuata (Foxtail Agave, Lion's Tail Agave, Swan's Neck Agave, Soft Leaf)
This species is commonly grown as an ornamental, and produces an impressive flower spike that rises a bit before gravity pulls in downwards. Mature plants reach up to 10 feet tall when in bloom. Leaves range in color from light greyish green to yellow-green. Cultivars include 'Variegata', 'Ray of Light', 'Boutin Blue', and 'Blue Flame'. 

Agave 'Blue Glow'
This species of Agave grows best in zones 9, 13-24 and H1. This is a compact grower and is a hybrid between Agave attenuata and Agave ocahui. Gets 1-2 feet tall and 2-3 feet wide. This plant forms one rosette of blue green leaves edged in red and yellow. Spines are short and red. The leaves have the appearance of glowing when it is backlit. Hardy to 28 degrees Fahrenheit. In desert conditions, these Agaves do best with some shade.

Agave bovicornuta (Cowhorn Agave, Lechguilla Verde)
This species produces beautiful rosettes of succulent leaves that do not produce suckers. Foliage has prominent red spines along its edges. Flowers are yellow and bloom atop stalks that can reach up to 60 inches tall. This species is native to Chihuaua, Sonora, and Sinaloa, Mexico.

​Agave bracteosa (Spider Agave, Squid Agave)
This is a compact, open grower to 12 inches high and 24 inches wide. It spreads slowly, eventually forming a large, mounding colony of plants. Twisting pale green leaves, creamy white flowers on a short spike. These Agaves do not die after flowering, and are great for container plantings.

Agave caymanensis (Cayman Agave)
This species is native to the Cayman Islands, where it grows in dry shrubland habitats. Plants generally form a short trunk clothed in dead leaves that reaches up to 13 feet tall when mature. Foliage is succulent and blue-green and forms a rosette up to 10 feet wide.

Agave celsii
This Agave grows best in zones 8, 9 and 13-24. This forms a spreading clump of rosettes that span two feet in diameter. Leaves can be apple green or blue grey, with teeth and a terminal spine. Variegated species are available. Needs some shade in desert climates, and protection from frost. It also needs room to spread once planted.

Agave coetocapnia 
This species grows from tuber and forms a basal rosette of foliage. Flowering stems reach up to 12 inches tall when in bloom, and support orange-red drooping flowers.

Agave deserti (Desert Agave, Mescal, Century Plant, Maguey)
This species is native to desert areas in southern California, Arizona, and Baja California. It produces a rosette of fleshy grey-green leaves with sharp spines along margins. Flowering stems reach to between 6.5 and 19 feet tall when flowers finally bloom at between 20 and 40 years of age. Plants die after flowering.

Agave filifera (Thread Agave)
This plant grows best in zones 12-24, and is hardy to 17 degrees Fahrenheit. Quick spreader to form a 2-3 foot wide clump with tight rosettes. Leaves are dark green and edged in white, with long threads at the edges of leaves. Dark brown terminal spine. Adapted to hot and dry conditions.

​Agave gentryi 'Jaws'
Grows best in zones 8, 9 and 14-24. This species is native to high mountains and forms a single rosette that is 4 feet tall and 6 feet wide. Leaves are light grey-green and glossy with large teeth. As leaves age, they turn inwards towards the center of the plant, giving the look of a mouthful of teeth. Very cold-hardy. Enjoy shade, but can be planted in full sun in coastal gardens. 

Agave guadalajarana
This species of Agave is native to Jalisco, Mexico, and reaches between one and two feet wide at maturity. These plants form a basal rosette of greyish-green leaves with distinctive overlap marks. Edges of leaves have large spines and are reddish brown. Flower spikes reach up to 13 feet tall and holds yellow flowers.

​Agave havardiana
Best in zones 7-24. Native to southeastern New Mexico, western Texas, and adjacent areas of Mexico. Forms a single rosette 2 feet tall and 3 feet wide, though it can develop offsets with age. Leaves are blue-grey to dull green, with toothed margins and a stout terminal spine. Flower spike can reach 15 feet tall with greenish-yellow blooms. Hardy to 0 degrees Fahrenheit. Great for cool, dry gardens.

Agave kewensis (Maguey del Grijalva, Grijalva's Agave)
This species was first described by Prussian botanist Georg Albano von Jacobi in 1866, and reaches up to 10 feet tall when mature. Leaves reach about a foot long, and plants produce yellow flowers in late summer and early fall. These plants have been over-collected and are now considered endangered.

Agave macroacantha (Black-Spined Agave, Large-Thorned Agave)
This species is native to Puebla, Mexico, and produces a medium-sized rosette that can be basal or short-stemmed. Leaves are succulent and grey-green with black spines up to over an inch long at tips. Flowers are small, grey and red, and grow in bunches on stems up to 10 feet tall.

Agave maculata (Texas Tuberose, Spice Lily)
This species is endemic to southern Texas and northeastern Mexico. These plants produce silvery-green leaves covered with purple spots. Flower stalks reach up to 2 feet tall and bloom in April through September. Blooms open white, and fade to pink before turning dark red. These plants are favorites of the rare Aloe Skipper butterfly.

Agave mitis
This species of Agave is native to Hidalgo, Tamaulipas, and San Luis Potosi, Mexico. It forms rosettes of blue-green to yellow-green succulent leaves that reach up to 2 feet long. Spines are soft and brown and flowering stalks reach up to 8 feet tall, holding green flowers.

​Agave multifilifera (Chahuiqui)
This grows best in zones 9, 13-24 and H1. Slow grower to a 3 feet tall and 5 feet wide single rosette with around 200 leaves. Plants form a short trunk as they mature. Leaves are gray-green and are decorated with white filaments. Spines are green and flexible. Stalk of flowers grows to 16 feet tall. Great container plant or focal point in the garden.

Agave murpheyi (Hohokam Agave, Murphey Agave, Murphey's Century Plant)
Forms a solitary rosette 3 feet tall and wide. Leaf color varies within the leaves on a single plant, from dark green to blue-green to yellowish. Flower stalks get to 13 feet tall and bear waxy flowers and tiny plantlets that can be propagated. Very tolerant of heat and drought. Variety 'Engard' (pictured) is a heavily variegated species with creamy white stripes.

​Agave ocahui 
This plant grows best in zones 8, 9 and 12-24. Forms a rosette 2 feet tall and 3 feet wide. Leaves are straight, narrow and dark green leaves are smooth-edged and have a sharp but flexible terminal spine. Margins have a red border that detaches from mature leaves. Flowers are yellow and form on a spike 10 feet tall. Thrives in sun or shade, and loves well-draining soil. Great in pots, and also can form a lush accent to desert gardens. 

​Agave ovatifolia (Whale's Tongue Agave)
Grows best in zones 8, 9 and 12-24. Forms one rosette of short grey-green leaves 2-5 feet tall and 3-6 feet wide. Leaves are lined with small teeth, and a dark grey spine forms the tip. Green-yellow flowers bloom on a 14-foot tall spike. Can grow in full sun on the coast but needs shade in desert conditions. Plants are compact in hot, dry situations and grow larger the more water they are given.

Agave parrasana (Cabbage Head Agave, Cabbage Head Century Plant)
This species is a slow-growing evergreen succulent native to northeastern Mexico. It produces a compact rosette of grey-green foliage with sharp red thorns at tips. Flowering stems reach up to almost 20 feet tall and hold red flowers that age to yellow. Plants die after flowering, but typically send out offsets.

​Agave parryi (Parry's Agave, Mescal Agave)
Grows best in zones 2b, 3 and 6-24. This is a compact variety native to Arizona and Northern Mexico. Thick blue-green or grey-green leaves with black spines. Grows to 2-3 feet tall and wide, and spreads by offsets. Resembles a giant artichoke. Flowers form on a spike and are yellow. Thrives in part-shade.

Agave parviflora (Santa Cruz Striped Agave, Smallflower Century Plant, Small-Flower Agave)
This species is native to Arizona and Sonora, Mexico, and forms a small rosette of waxy dark green leaves with spine tips. Margins have peeling 'hairs', and plants produce a flowering stem after several years that reaches 3-7 feet tall and holds cream to pale yellow flowers through summertime. 

Agave phillipsiana (Grand Canyon Century Plant, Phillips Agave)
This species is native to the Grand Canyon in Arizona, and produces a flowering stalk that reaches over five and a half feet tall. Blooms are greenish to cream-colored with hints of maroon. These agaves tend to grow on terraces next to riverbeds in sandy, gravelly or rocky soils. 

​Agave potatorum (Butterfly Agave, Verschaffelt Agave)
This plant grows best in zones 8, 9 and 12-24, and forms a single rosette with cupped grey-green leaves. Small teeth line leaf margins, and flowers are greenish-yellow. Flower spikes grow to 14 feet tall. Plants stay compact in hot weather, and grow larger with extra waterings.

​Agave schidigera
This Agave grows in zones 9 and 13-24, and gets to a little over 2 feet tall and wide. Forms a single rosette of green shiny leaves with terminal spines. Leaf margins have curly white strings. 10-foot tall flower stalks bear purple blooms. Needs regular water and sun protection in hot climates. Great for containers. Variety 'Durango Delight' is compact and symmetrical.

​Agave 'Sharkskin'
This hybrid gets to 2-3 feet tall and 3-4 feet wide, and is best in zones 8, 9, 13-17 and 19-24. Stout habit with grey-green, toothless leaves tipped with a sharp spine. Suckers grow freely and produce spreading colonies of new plants. Best in full sun, and needs little water.

Agave shawii (Shaw's Agave, Coast Agave, Goldman Agave)
This species is native to southwestern California and northwestern Baja California. These plants form rosettes of green fleshy foliage with toothed margins. After several years, it produces a flowering stalk and then perishes. Flowers are yellow or red, and typically bloom between the months of September and May in the plant's native range.

Agave sisalana (Sisal)
This species is native to southern Mexico and is widely cultivated around the globe. Plants are grown for their stiff fiber that is used to make rope, paper, cloth, bags, carpets, geotextiles, and dartboards. It is a composite in fiberglass, rubber, and some concrete products as well. Plants can also be used to make mezcal. This is considered an invasive species in Hawaii and Florida.

Agave stricta (Hedgehog Agave) 
These plants are native to Puebla and Oaxaca in southern Mexico, and typically reach about 20 inches tall. It is an evergreen succulent plant with rosettes of narrow spiny leaves and reddish-purple flowers in summertime. Foliage can develop reddish to purplish tones in summer. 

Agave tequilana (Blue Agave, Blue Weber Agave, Agave Azul, Tequila Agave)
This species is widely cultivated and economically significant due to its role as the base ingredient of the liquor tequila. These plants are native to Jalizco, Colima, Nayarit, Michoacan, and Aguascalientes, Mexico. Tequila is made only from the cultivar 'Weber Azul', from which the heart is harvested after 7-14 years of growth.

Agave titanota (Chalk Agave)
This species forms a medium-sized evergreen succulent perennial and is native to Oaxaca, Mexico. Individual plants typically reach 1-2 feet tall and 203 feet wide. Plants form solitary rosettes of white-green leaves that are narrow at the base. They occasionally produce offsets. Hardy down to 27 degrees Fahrenheit. Popularly grown cultivars of this species include 'White Ice', 'Filigree', and 'Solar Eclipse'.

Agave univittata (Agave lophantha) (Thorn-Crested Century Plant, Thorn-Crested Agave)
This species of Agave is native to coastal regions in southern Texas and northeastern Mexico, and produces thick, fleshy leaves that have wavy edges. Spines are sharp and prominent, forming on edges and tips of leaves. Flowering stalks can reach up to 16 feet tall when mature, and bear green-white to yellow-green flowers. The cultivar 'Quadricolor' (pictured) is a very popular garden ornamental.

​Agave victoriae-reginae
Grows best in zones 10, 12, 13, 15-17 and 21-24. Single rosette 12-15 inches across, occasionally forming offsets. Leaves are dark green with narrow white lines and sharp black tips. Plant is a slow-grower and may not flower for decades. Great in containers.

​Agave vilmoriniana (Octopus Agave)
Grows best in zones 12-24; Single rosette up to 3 feet tall and 5-6 feet wide. Leaves are pale green to yellow green and deeply channeled with a long spine at the end. Leaves are arching and twisted, giving the appearance of an octopus or spider.

Agave weberi (Agave neglecta) (Weber Agave, Maguey Liso, Wild Century Plant, Small Agave)
Dramatic plant, grows in zones 8, 9 and 12-24. Gets 5 feet tall and 10 feet wide, with with grey-green leaves that are finely toothed. Plants make a few offsets and a branched stalk that has yellow flowers.

Caring for Agave

Agave have a large taproot, which means that they do not usually transplant well. It is important to choose a proper planting site and prepare it before attempting to introduce your new Agave. If they are transplanted when young, they will do better. Amend the surrounding soil with sand or grit to improve drainage; it should be about half sand for the plant to perform the best. Agave prefer soil that is slightly acidic to neutral pH. Choose a site that gets full sun or partial shade (at least six hours of sun per day), dig a hole a little larger than the container, and plant your Agave. Provide a moderate amount of water for the first week, and then cut it by about half the second week. Continue to taper weekly until you are just watering about every other week. Some Agave will do well in pots; ensure that soil is well-draining and amended by at least half its volume with gritty sand. You can also pot your Agave in cactus mix. Also, ensure that the pot is not glazed, so that excess water can evaporate through the container walls. 

Agaves are relatively easy to grow once they are established, and only need to be watered once their soil has dried out. Agave does not need to be fertilized, and actually benefit from some neglect. Agave grown in pots will require more water than those grown in the ground, as their taproot will not be able to grow as deep to access water. They will also need to be repotted every year to replenish the soil and clip the taproot. Certain types of Agave are prized for their use in tequila and mezcal, and some are used to make a syrupy sugar substitute. The flowers, leaves, basal rosettes, and sap can be cooked and eaten, but the raw agave sap is toxic to people and pets, so be careful when handling it. For more information on how to cook with and harvest Agave, see the References section below. 

Propagation

There are two main ways to propagate Agave: by pup (volunteer) and by seed. The easiest way is through pup, or volunteer plants, because it requires the least amount of disruption to the parent plant and ensures that you will get an exact clone, which is something not guaranteed by the seed propagation method. Peruse the propagation methods for Agave below:

Propagation By Volunteer Pup
The easiest way to propagate Agave is by pulling off their pups and replanting them where you'd like your new Agave to be. The pups will come out of the ground easily with a hand shovel when they are young, so make sure to catch them when they are small (just a few inches in diameter). This is a good practice to engage in, even when you're not looking to propagate your Agave, because it will discourage the plant to colonize. To propagate your Agave by pups, you'll need a clean trowel and a pot filled with soil half amended with gritty sand (or filled with cactus mix, your choice). Once you've gathered your materials, follow these steps:
  1. Loosen the soil around the bottom of your Agave plant where the pup has formed and locate the root that is connecting it to the parent plant. Cut the root with a sharp trowel. Take care to not cut off any of the other roots that are coming out of your pup. 
  2. Gently dig up the pup, keeping as many roots attached as possible. Then, place your pup in a shaded, dry area that receives good ventilation for a few days, until it forms a callous where it was cut from the parent plant.
  3. Plant your pup in your pot filled with potting mix and lightly moisten the soil, ensuring that adequate drainage is occurring. Place the container in an area that receives bright light and stays relatively warm.
  4. Give the pup water every time the top inch or two of soil dry out, but don't saturate the soil. After a few weeks of this watering schedule, the pup should be ready to be planted outside in its permanent home. Then, follow the instructions in the care section to grow your pup into an adult plant.
Pups can be encouraged to form by intentionally damaging the Agave plant. Use a very sharp knife to damage one of the parent plant's leaves close to the base of the Agave. The plant will form pups where the damage has occurred. Once the pups have reached a size of about a few inches in diameter, remove them and follow instructions 2-4 above. 

Propagation by Seed
Propagation of Agave by seed requires - you guessed it - Agave  seeds! You can either purchase seeds or wait for your agave to flower, though keep in mind this can take 7 to 25 years from when the Agave is first planted. Agave are commonly called 'Century Plant' for a reason. After flowers have faded, fruit will form in their place, and inside this fruit are the seeds you need. The fruit will ripen in around nine months, though in warmer climates it can take less time. The seeds inside the fruit will only produce new plants if they have been pollinated. This can occur through animal or insect activity, or helped along via a Q-Tip and a ladder (those flower spikes can get pretty tall).

Once the fruit starts to dry out, it is ready to be harvested for its seeds. If left on the plant, these fruits will develop on their own into smaller Agave plants (called bulbils) that can easily be cut off and planted (after removing them from the plant, follow steps 2-4 in the 'Propagation by Pup' instructions above). The best time to sow Agave seeds is in June, when they can receive adequate sunlight and heat. You'll need a pot or seed tray filled with a carefully-concocted potting mix (1/2 regular potting mix, 1/4 coarse sand, 1/4 crushed lava rock) and more coarse sand. To propagate your Agave by seed, follow these directions:
  1. Gather your materials and fill your pot with the potting mix described and smooth out the top, without pressing down too much. You want to keep the soil very well-draining. Place the seeds on top of the soil about a centimeter apart, and cover them with a layer of coarse sand (particle grit no larger than 4mm). 
  2. Water your seeds, being careful to not disturb their placement under the sand. Keep the seeds moist but not wet as they germinate, which should happen between a week and a few weeks. Your pot or tray should be in an area that receives bright indirect light. It is important to attempt to germinate more than a few seeds, as it is likely that not all seeds will germinate successfully. After most of the seeds have germinated, increase ventilation and provide the seedlings with good light, but not direct sunlight. About five weeks after germination, cut watering to about once a week, allowing the soil to dry out in between waterings. Do not provide water if the soil is still moist. 
  3. By the end of September you should cut waterings to once every two weeks, and in October, waterings should almost cease, unless you notice the leaves shriveling. The plant will be entering its dormant stage at this point. Over the winter months, keep your Agave plant safe from freezing temperatures. Once March rolls around, increase waterings again to once every two weeks, though only water if the soil is completely dry.
  4. Your new Agave can be planted in the ground in April or May, depending on how your seedlings are doing at this point. Then, follow the care instructions listed in the Caring for Agave section above.
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Agave seeds ready to be sown.
The dried seed pods of Agave plants will look like this. 
Agave bulbils that form when seed pods are not removed from the Agave plant.
A pup ready to be removed from its parent plant.
Agave pups removed from their parent plant. 
Repotted Agave pups. 

Problems and Pests

Agave is a relatively easy plant to care for, though it can have issues with drooping leaves or leaves turning yellow. Drooping leaves can be a sign that your Agave is getting too much water, causing Root Rot. Drooping leaves can also be a sign that you have an Agave Snout Weevil, in which case not much can be done and the plant should be removed. Leaves turning yellow on your Agave can also signal an overwatering problem, though it can also mean that your Agave is not getting adequate light. For more information on how to control and correct Root Rot and Agave Snout Weevil, see the links below:

Gallery

Agave can add pops of structure to your garden. 
Agaves are great for xeriscape landscapes, and look wonderful planted amongst other low-water plants.
Agave can be used in modern landscapes to provide structure.
​Agave americana 'Mediopicta Alba'
Agave does well in containers; this raises the plants up off the ground so they can be admired from a closer distance. 
​Agave schidigera 'Durango' is a very interesting, symmetrical Agave.

Videos

All about the history of Agave as a food source.
Having trouble deciding which Agave to plant in your garden? This video will help you out.
How to care for your Agave plant, including when and how to prune.
How tequila is made from the Agave plant.
An overview of 30 different species of Agave. 
How to care for your agave plants.

Resources

Problems and Pests of Agave, Aloe, Cactus, and Yucca
How to Multiply Agave Plants
Agave Plant Care and Growing Guide
Planting Agave: How to Grow Agave
Agave Snout Weevil
Wikipedia: List of Agave Species
Wikipedia: Agave
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Pages 139 - 140, Agave
If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or photos you’d like to add to the gallery, please let me know by sending me a message using the button below!
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