Agave
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Polianthes
- Phonetic Spelling
- ah-GAH-vay
- Description
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This is a Genus of about 200 perennial plants in the Agavaceae family native to desert areas of Mexico and the Southwestern United States and are known as century plants. The Genus names comes from Ancient Greek meaning illustrious or noble.
They grow in various sizes with some becoming very large up to 8 feet tall and 12 feet wide. They require full sun and sharply drained sandy soils. Some reproduce by plant offsets, some by rhizomes and they can also be started from seeds.
The plant grows in a rosette of large thick fleshy leaves and most have sharp teeth along the margins. The plants can take 15-60 years to produce a tall stalk from the center of the rosette with multiple white tubular flowers that produce large amounts of nectar. Most species will die the following season once the flower sets seed.
Some agaves are appropriate for the home garden. Use in a rock garden, for xeriscaping and drought tolerant gardens. Some are appropriate for containers and houseplants. Some varieties have sap that can cause contact dermatitis for some people.
Quick ID:
- Rosette of fleshy, basal leaves
- Spines along the leaf margins and a large spine at the tip
- Tall spikes of flowers that bloom only once in the plant's life
Additional Agave Images at Juniper Level Botanic Garden:
VIDEO Created by Laura Barth for "Houseplants, Succulents, and Cacti", a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Juniper Level Botanic Garden: Crevice Garden Juniper Level Botanic Garden: Bog Garden Juniper Level Botanic Gardens: Muscadine Bed Juniper Level Botanic Garden: Parking Lot Berms Juniper Level Botanic Garden: Part Sun-Part Shade Garden Juniper Level Botanic Garden: Souto Sun Garden
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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A. americana
- 'Multicolor'
- 'Sharkskin Shoes'
slightly twisted appearance, medium in size with broad slate colored leaves
Variegated leaves A. amica
A. parryi
A. salmiana
A. virginica
- 'Multicolor'
- A. americana, A. amica, A. parryi, A. salmiana, A. virginica, 'Multicolor', 'Sharkskin Shoes'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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A. americana
- 'Multicolor'
- 'Sharkskin Shoes'
slightly twisted appearance, medium in size with broad slate colored leaves
Variegated leaves A. amica
A. parryi
A. salmiana
A. virginica
- 'Multicolor'
- A. americana, A. amica, A. parryi, A. salmiana, A. virginica, 'Multicolor', 'Sharkskin Shoes'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Agave
- Family:
- Asparagaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Used to make tequila. Leaves used to make cloth, rope, needles
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Tropical USA, Mexico
- Wildlife Value:
- They attract bees, butterflies, bats, hummingbirds, deer and smaller mammals.
- Edibility:
- Used to make a sugar substitute sweetener. Flowers and stalk are edible
- Dimensions:
- Height: 6 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 10 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Houseplant
- Perennial
- Succulent
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Appendage:
- Spines
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- Very Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- 3 feet-6 feet
- 6-feet-12 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- Clusters of berry-like seed pods.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Spike
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Bell
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 6 petals/rays
- Flower Description:
- Tall panicles of white, green or yellow tubular flowers with 6 petals in various sizes depending on the species. Flowering is rare in indoor environments.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Blue
- Gold/Yellow
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Variegated
- White
- Leaf Feel:
- Fleshy
- Prickly
- Smooth
- Waxy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Rosulate
- Leaf Shape:
- Oblanceolate
- Obovate
- Spatulate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Rosettes of stemless fleshy leaves with entire or serrated margins and many have sharp teeth along the margin and tip. Depending on the species, leaves range from a few inches to 8 feet long. Many have a glaucous coating on the surface and may be faceted. They can be pale green to blue-grey and can be variegated or striped.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Large thick flowering stem
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Houseplants
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Rock Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Bats
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Small Mammals
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Heat
- Problems:
- Contact Dermatitis
