Alphabetical Plant Listing

Agave: Plant Care and Growing Guide

Agave americana, Agave attenuata, Agave bracteosa, Agave desmettiana, Agave havardiana, Agave lophantha, Agave macroacantha, Agave neomexicana, Agave ovatifolia, Agave parryi, Agave salmiana, Agave stricta, Agave tequilana, Agave utahensis, Agave victoriae-reginae, Agave vilmoriniana


Agave plants are popular for landscaping because they are rich in many qualities and have a striking architectural appearance.

What are Agave Plants?

Agave is a genus of about 300 species of succulent plants that are native to arid regions of the Americas, particularly Mexico and the southwestern United States. It belongs to the asparagus family, Asparagaceae, along with asparagusyuccabluebell, hosta, and some houseplants.

Agaves are evergreen succulents with handsome rosettes of usually thick, rigid, fleshy leaves with marginal teeth and often a sharp terminal spine.

Diversity: Agaves come in many different sizes and colors and showcase a diverse range of leaf shapes. They make excellent landscape features, providing year-round visual appeal. Smaller varieties are perfect for adding texture, color, and drama to containers. They are fascinating plants that offer a lot of variety and interest to any landscape.

Foliage: Agaves are characterized by their thick, fleshy foliage that often has spiky edges or tips. Their leaves can display a range of colors, from green to blue-gray to variegated, and some species feature eye-catching patterns or markings.

Long-lived: Agaves are often referred to as "century plants" because they can take many years - up to 30 - to bloom and produce seeds.

Flowers: A blooming agave is an impressive sight - the plant is topped with a striking flowering spike that can reach up to 15 ft (5m) in height and features vibrant clusters of flowers. Many agaves are monocarpic, meaning they bloom once and then die. However, it may take several years for this to happen, and many agaves produce offsets that will happily replace the dead plant.

Guide Information

Hardiness 7 - 11
Heat Zones 5 - 12
Plant Type Cactus - Succulents
Plant Family Agave
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Early,Mid,Late)
Summer (Early,Mid,Late)
Fall
Winter
Water Needs Low
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Well-Drained
Characteristics Showy
Tolerance Deer, Drought, Rabbit, Dry Soil, Rocky Soil
Attracts Birds, Hummingbirds
Landscaping Ideas Banks and Slopes, Beds and Borders, Patio and Containers
Garden Styles City and Courtyard, Coastal Garden, Gravel and Rock Garden, Mediterranean Garden
Compare All Agave Great Plant Combination Ideas with Agave Guides with Agave

Wolf Avni, Shutterstock

While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.

Guide Information

Hardiness 7 - 11
Heat Zones 5 - 12
Plant Type Cactus - Succulents
Plant Family Agave
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Early,Mid,Late)
Summer (Early,Mid,Late)
Fall
Winter
Water Needs Low
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Well-Drained
Characteristics Showy
Tolerance Deer, Drought, Rabbit, Dry Soil, Rocky Soil
Attracts Birds, Hummingbirds
Landscaping Ideas Banks and Slopes, Beds and Borders, Patio and Containers
Garden Styles City and Courtyard, Coastal Garden, Gravel and Rock Garden, Mediterranean Garden
Compare All Agave Great Plant Combination Ideas with Agave Guides with Agave

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