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 asparagus, yucca, bluebell, 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 |
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 |