Agaves for the Landscape

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Agaves for the Landscape Jeff Pavlat 8/07

Information Sources
Books
Agaves, Yuccas, and Related Plants – Mary and Gary Irish – Timber Press
Agaves of Continental North America – Howard Scott Gentry – The University of Arizona Press

Online
www.mswn.com/MSWNCatalog.pdf (Mountain States Wholesale Nursery Product Catalog)
www.desert-tropicals.com/Plants/Agavaceae/Agave.html (Desert-Tropicals.com)
www.agavaceae.com (Click “botanical database AGAVACEAE” at the bottom)
www.yuccado.com (YuccaDo Nursery)

Overview
Agave is a New World genus comprised of 200 to 250 species. Its native range goes from the Southwestern United States
through Mexico and Central America and into the Caribbean Islands. Agaves grow in a variety of habitats from deserts to
forests to the seashore. They grow at elevations ranging from sea level to over 7000 ft.
Agaves have played an important role in the indigenous civilizations of their range. The plants and their flowers have
been used for food and beverages. Their fibers have been used to make rope and paper, and their leaves to make medicines,
soap, and poison to tip arrows for fishing. Dried bloom stalks have been used as poles, and rows of plants as living fences.
With the European occupation of Mexico came the technology to distill roasted agaves into liquors. Agave tequiliana and
A. angustafolia are used today to produce tequila and mezcal respectively. A. sisalana, the source of sisal fiber, is cultivated
worldwide today to make rope and twine.
Agaves form rosettes varying in size from a couple inches to over 15 ft. across. Most agave species are monocarpic,
that is they flower once and die. There are a few species that are polycarpic (flowering multiple times). Agave blooms are
either paniculate – forming a tall spike with panicles, or spicate – forming a tall unbranched spike.

Cultivation Information

Soil
Agaves can handle a wide range of soil types, provided they are well-drained. It is better to avoid soil mixes with too much
clay or organic matter. The addition of gravel or crushed granite, as well as raised beds can help to improve drainage. When
planting agaves, it is best to raise them on a slight mound an inch or so above the soil level. This will help to prevent the
crown from rotting.

Water
When established, most agaves rarely need supplemental water. During very dry summers water well once or twice a month.
It is better to water deeply, but infrequently, than to water lightly more often. Agaves which are water stressed can yellow or
have a withered or wrinkled appearance on the leaf. A deep watering will correct the problem. The lower leaves of overwatered
agaves will usally begin to turn brown or black and die off. In serious cases the base of the plant will rot. It is best to
keep agaves as dry as possible in cold weather.

Propagation
Agaves can be easily propagated by seed or by removing offsets or bulbils. When removing offsets, it is O.K. for them to
remain unplanted for days or even weeks. Agaves root easily and can be moved from place to place in the garden without
problem. It is best to trim the roots back to 4 or 5 inches before replanting. Occasionally, moving a mature plant can trigger
the plant to bloom.

Winter Protection
Cold tolerance in agaves ranges from frost tender to handling temperatures as low as -20°F. Generally, agaves with soft,
pliable leaves are less hardy than those with hard, rigid leaves. Listed cold tolerances are a good guide but there is variation
in how much cold individual plants can take. Soil conditions and the location in the garden will also influence a plants cold
hardiness. Many plants will begin to show freeze damage at temperatures far above what would actually kill the plant. For
some species this damage will grow out in a few months, others can take much longer. Marginal plants can be covered with
towels or blankets to help prevent frost damage. Christmas lights can also be used to provide additional heat.

Pests and Problems

Agave Snout Weevil – The most serious agave pest is the agave snout weevil/beetle (Scyphophorus acupunctatus). It is a dark brown to black weevil around .5 in. in length with a very long obvious snout. It bores a small hole near the base of the leaf in which it deposits eggs. The larvae eat their way through the heart of the plant. The larvae also introduce bacteria which ultimately cause the center of the plant to rot out. Generally, the leaves of what appeared to be a healthy plant will suddenly start to turn brown and drop, leaving the central bud standing. The central bud will often easily pull out. When any damage is apparent it is too late for the plant. Fortunately, healthy plants can usually repel the insect with an acidic sap before they can lay eggs. Stressed plants and those about to go into bloom are the most susceptible. Plants can be treated with Marathon 1% Granular Greenhouse and Nursery Insecticide. Sprinkle 1 to 5 tablespoons (depending on the size of the plant) around the base of the rosette. It is a systemic insecticide and will need to be watered into the soil. This can be expensive but may be worth it for more valuable plants.
Deer – Deer usually avoid eating all but the softest of agaves. They will, however, scrape the velvet off of their antlers
on larger specimens. The damage ranges from one or two shredded leaves to a destroyed plant.
Hail – Hail will leave small spots on the leaves of agaves. It is especially noticeable on dark green varieties like A. salmiana and A. victoriae-reginae. Placing a square of window screen fabric (available in rolls from hardware stores)
over plants in threatening weather can help prevent small hail damage.

Agave Species for Central Texas

Agave americana
Agave americana has a long ornamental history and is grown across the globe. It is one of the earliest European introductions
from the New World. Linnaeus used the species in 1753 to describe the genus Agave. A. americana is a large, highly variable
species which offsets freely. It grows from 6 to 10 ft. tall and 10 to 13 ft. wide. The leaves are hard, very smooth, and deeply
guttered with the color ranging from gray-green to gray to glaucous blue-gray. The inflorescence is a panicle 16 to 26 ft. tall
with yellow flowers. A. americana can bloom after about 10 years in the ground and will die after blooming. It is easy to
cultivate. It tolerates a wide range of soils and can handle hot dry conditions as well as cooler wet ones. A. americana is cold
tolerant to around 15°F. It grows best in full sun but can handle some shade. All types of A. americana are highly susceptible
to the agave snout weevil – particularly before blooming. There are also some very nice variegates of A. americana that can
be used in the landscape.

• Agave americana var. marginata – Forms a large rosette of strap-like leaves with yellow margins. Not as cold hardyas the species. Hardy to around 20°F but can start to show some freeze damage at 25°F without protection. It can reach the same size as the species but grows much slower, especially if it’s not in full sun.
• Agave americana var. medio-picta alba – Forms an urn-shaped rosette with a creamy white-yellow stripe down the center and green margins. Hardy to around 15°F but can start to show some freeze damage at 23°F without protection. It is much smaller that the species reaching only around 4 ft. in height and width. It doesn’t grow as fast as the species but grows faster in full sun than partial shade.
• Agave americana var. striata – Has a similar growth habit to the species with a random creamy yellow coloring finely striped through the glaucous blue-gray leaf. Exact cold hardiness is untested but is probably similar to A. americana var. marginata. Grows to 6 ft. tall and 8 ft. wide.
• Agave americana subsp. protoamericana – Similar to the species but smaller with glaucous blue-gray leaves. Cold hardy to at least 15°F. Grows to 6 ft. tall and 8 ft. wide. This is the only form of A. americana with a known wild population. It is documented to occur in the Sierra Madre Oriental of eastern Mexico.

Agave bracteosa
Agave bracteosa is a small species from the Mexican states of Coahuila and Nuevo León. It rarely exceeds 1.5 ft. in height
and width. It forms a rosette of flexible, spineless, lime green leaves which twist, arch, and recurve gracefully. The leaf margin
is smooth but can be a little sharp. Older plants will produce offsets. The bloom is a dense spike with white to pale yellow
flowers on the upper third. Unlike most agaves, A. bracteosa does not die after it blooms. It can grow in full sun or light shade.
In full sun it is susceptible to yellowing in the summer from heat stress, but will regain its green color with a little extra water.
In light shade the yellowing is not a problem. A. bracteosa is cold hardy to around 15°F. It is an excellent choice for small
spaces and also works very well in containers.

Agave colorata
Agave colorata is a medium-sized species from the coastal zones of the Mexican state of Sonora. It is generally 4 ft. in height
and width. It has broad glaucous blue-gray leaves with strong bud imprint marks and cross banding. The leaf margins have
strong undulations and large prominent teats with dark brown teeth. The inflorescence is a panicle 6 to 10 ft. tall with yellow
flowers. The plant is usually solitary, but may produce a few offsets. It will die after flowering. A. colorata can handle most soils
as long as it has adequate drainage. It grows best in full sun. A. colorata is cold hardy to around 15°F. It is a very beautiful
plant, although it can be difficult to find.

Agave lophantha
Agave lophantha is a medium-sized species from the Rio Grande Valley of Texas in Starr and Zapata counties and on into the
Mexican state of Veracruz. Rosettes are 2 ft. in height and 3 ft. wide. The green leaves are stiff, glossy, and sword-like, with
a light stripe down the center. The margins are saw-like and lined with fine gray to brown teeth. It has a long terminal spine.
A. lophantha offsets and will produce large irregular colonies plants which can harbor agave snout weevils. It is best to remove
the offsets to avoid this problem. The bloom is a 11.5 to 13 ft. spike with yellow-green flowers. It dies after flowering.
It will grow in full sun or light shade. A. lophantha is cold hardy to around 10°F.

• Agave lophantha var. brevifolia – Similar to the species with much shorter leaves ending in a blunt tip. Rosettes are 1.5 ft. in height and 2 ft. in width. May possibly be a hybrid with Agave xylonacantha. This form is much more handsome than the species. It offsets, but does not quickly form large colonies. Cold hardy to around 10°F.

Agave neomexicana
Agave neomexicana is a small to medium species from the mountains of southeastern New Mexico and western Texas. It
usually grows to be 1.5 ft. in height and 2 ft. wide. It forms compact rosettes of slender, lanceolate, blue-green to gray leaves.
A. neomexicana looks similar to A. parryi var. parryi, but has narrower leaves. The bloom is a panicle 8 to 11 ft. tall with
flowers that are red in bud and yellow when open. It dies after flowering but produces a large number of offsets throughout
its life. A. neomexicana requires excellent drainage. It grows best in full sun. It has excellent cold tolerance, being said to
withstand temperatures as low as -20°F.

Agave ovatifolia
Agave ovatifolia is a newly described (2002), medium-sized species from northern Nuevo León, Mexico. It grows to be 2 to
4 ft. high by 3 to 5 ft. wide. It forms a slightly flattened rosette with short, wide, powder-blue leaves. The inflorescence is a
10 to 14 ft. panicle with yellow-green flowers. It does not produce offsets and will die after flowering. Plants are tolerant of
most soil types as long as the drainage is good. Limited water will keep the plant on the smaller side. It can be grown in full
sun to very light filtered shade. A. ovatifolia is cold hardy to around 5°F.

Agave parryi

• Agave parryi var. parryi – Native from central Arizona into New Mexico and south into Mexico. Forms compact, nearly round rosettes 2 ft. high by 3 ft. wide of light gray to light blue-green lanceolate leaves 10 to 16 in. in length. All A. parryi varieties have leaves which are thick, rigid, smooth, and flat to barely concave on the surface. The inflorescence is a panicle 11 to 20 ft. tall with lemon yellow flowers having tints of red or pink when in bud. It dies after flowering, but produces many offsets. It grows well in full sun or partial shade. It has few soil requirements but prefers good drainage. A. parryi var. parryi is cold hardy to -20°F.
• Agave parryi var. parryi “Estrella” – A tissue-cultured clone of A. parryi var. parryi with an exceptionally symmetrical form and blue color. Cold hardy to around 10°F.
• Agave parryi var. couesii – Native to central Arizona. It is smaller than the type with a leaf shape in between the lanceolate form of var. huachucensis and the obovate form of var. truncata. Cold hardy to around 0°F.
• Agave parryi var. huachucensis – Native to southeastern Arizona and Chihuahua, Mexico. It is the largest and most robust of the parryi varieties. The leaves are longer, up to 25 inches, and more lanceolate than the type. It does not like to be overwatered. Cold hardy to around 15°F.
• Agave parryi var. truncata – Native to the Durango-Zacatecas border in Mexico. It is one of the most handsome of all the agaves. It forms dense symmetrical rosettes of blue-gray obovate to ovate leaves 3 ft. tall and wide. Cold hardy to around 15°F.

Agave salmiana
Agave salmiana is a large, variable species from the Mexican states of San Luis Potosí, Hidalgo, Puebla, Guanajuato, Michoacán, Mexico, Querétaro, and Oaxaca. It ranges in size from 5 to 6.5 ft. tall and 10 to 13 ft. wide. It is an urn shaped rosette with thick, hard, fleshy, deeply guttered leaves which are dark green to glaucous gray-green. A. salmiana has a wavy leaf margin with a long terminal spine. The bloom is a panicle 23 to 26 ft. tall with yellow flowers tinged with red while in bud. It dies after flowering, but produces at least a few offsets. It grows in full sun to light shade. There are numerous varieties and cultivars with some being frost tender and others hardy to 5°F.

• Agave salmiana var. ferox – One of the largest varieties with leaves about a foot wide and 3 ft. long. The teeth and terminal spine are brown, large, and heavy. It is cold hardy to around 20°F.

Agave scabra
Agave scabra is a medium to large species from the Chihuahuan Desert region of northeastern Mexico. It is usually around
4 ft. in height and width. The leaves are gray-green, thick, and very rough. They curve strongly with heavy teeth and a long
terminal spine. The inflorescence is a 13 to 19 ft. panicle with yellow flowers. It dies after flowering, but usually produces
numerous offsets. A. scabra prefers to be very hot and dry in full sun. It is cold hardy to 10°F.

Agave schidigera
Agave schidigera is a small to medium Mexican species ranging from northwestern Chihuahua south to Michoacán and east
to San Luis Potosí, Zacatecas, and Durango. It generally grows to around 2 ft. in height and width and forms compact,
symmetrical rosettes of dark green leaves with white bud imprints and marginal fibers. A. schidigera produces a 10 to 12 ft.
tall bloom stalk with green-yellow flowers tinted with purple. It rarely offsets and dies after flowering. Full sun helps keep the
rosette compact. A. shidigera is cold hardy to around 15°F. “Durango Delight” is a commonly found cultivar.

Agave striata
Agave striata is a clumping species from northeastern Mexico. Plants can grow to 3 ft. in height and 4 ft. across. It forms fairly
open rosettes of thin leaves .25 inch wide by 2 ft. long. The leaves are stiff, rhomboid in cross section, and green often with a
reddish cast. The inflorescence is a spike 5 to 8 ft. tall, often crooked, and lined with yellow to red-purple flowers. A. striata
does not die after flowering, but produces axillary branches. It maintains its best form in full sun and requires little water. It is
cold hardy to around 15°F.

• Agave striata subsp. falcata – Has an even more open rosette than the type. It has overall wider leaves that are thicker

at the base.

Agave victoriae-reginae
Agave victoriae-reginae is a small species from the Mexican states of Coahuila, Durango, and Nuevo León. It grows to 1.5 ft.
in height and width. It forms a dense, symmetrical rosette of hard, triangular leaves with white marks and margins. The bloom
is a 15 ft. spike densely packed with cream to red-purple flowers. It dies after blooming, but grows slowly and can take
decades to bloom. Some plants are solitary, while others offset. It prefers well-drained soil, and will maintain the best form
in full sun with light water. A. victoriae-reginae is cold-hardy to a least 10°F.

• Agave victoriae-reginae “compacta” – A more compact form than the species growing to 1 ft. tall and wide. The leaves

are shorter and wider. It has very wide and showy markings compared to the species.

Agave weberi
Agave weberi is a large species 4 to 5 ft. in height by 6.5 to 10 ft. in width that has no known wild form. The leaves are wide,
fleshy and gray-green to shiny green. The upper half of the leaf has a smooth margin while the lower half can have fine teeth.
The bloom is a panicle 23 to 26 ft. tall with yellow flowers. Some individuals form bulbils on the bloom stalk. It dies after
flowering, but usually produces a moderate number of offsets. It can be grown in full sun or light shade. It may yellow due to
heat stress but will recover with a little extra water. A. weberi is cold hardy to around 12°F.

Photos available in pdf