Agave Agave
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Polianthes
- Phonetic Spelling
- ah-GAH-vay
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Sometimes described as fierce and outspoken, agaves give great bones to the body of your garden, support gardening style in the heat of summer and keep their composure through winter rain and snow. Great structure, unique foliage, and a flower stalk that can stretch up to 40 feet in the air are a few interesting features of agaves. Some tolerate frost, but most grow in dry climates in zone 9 and above. Smaller varieties exist for use as houseplants.
Often called “century plants,” this genus is comprised of succulent perennials that patiently grow and accumulate their reserves to put out one grand flower show. Fortunately, flowering doesn’t take 100 years, but it can take up to 30. They will typically hold out for five to ten seasons before producing a monstrously tall stalk of yellow flowers that is well worth the wait. The offsets or “pups” are produced as the original expires. Flowering is rare in indoor environments.
Agaves are found native in the most challenging desert habitats of Mexico and the southwestern United States. They can survive the hottest, driest summer that North Carolina can bring. Agaves will benefit from as much sunshine as you can afford and respond well to fertilizer and water in the summer. Keep their feet from staying wet; agaves require very good drainage, especially during our cool, wet winters. Sandy or gravely soil is ideal.
Sunny spots and rock gardens are great places for agaves. Larger species, such as Agave americana, grow five feet wide and produce tall flower spikes, while smaller versions and other species, such as Agave parryi, can display a more compact stature with equally beautiful, although slightly shorter, flower stalks. Select silver, blue, or variegated leaves and colorful spines to draw even more attention to this succulent, no matter the size.
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:
- Agavaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Tropical USA, Mexico
- Edibility:
- Used to make a sugar substitute sweetener.
- 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
- Poisonous
- 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 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 Description:
- Tall panicles of white, green or yellow tubular flowers in various sizes depending on the species. The individual rosette will die back after flowering. 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 Description:
- Rosettes of stemless fleshy leaves with entire or serrated margins and pointed sharp tips in various sizes depending on the species. Many have a glaucous coating on the surface and may be faceted.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Houseplants
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Rock Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Specimen
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Heat
- Problems:
- Contact Dermatitis
- Poisonous to Humans
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Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- Low
- Poison Symptoms:
- Poison part: Plant sap from leaves Poison Delivery Mode: Dermatitis Symptoms: Skin irritation. Immediate burning and redness with developing blisters
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Unknown
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- Yes
- Poison Part:
- Leaves
- Sap/Juice