Agave Lovers, This List Is For You! 80+ Varieties Unveiled
Posted by: Janie
Are you an agave aficionado? If your heart swoons at the sight of these striking succulents, you’re in for a treat! We’ve curated a drool-worthy collection of over 80 agave varieties that will leave you mesmerized. From the rarest gems to the most beloved beauties, this comprehensive guide is a must-have for every agave enthusiast. Get ready to embark on a captivating journey through the enchanting world of these extraordinary plants!
Imagine a petite succulent adorned with cottony white fibers peeking out from beneath each leaf’s terminal spine. This extra-small variety forms solitary or clustered balls of narrow leaves, making it a truly unique addition to any collection.
Agave americana
The best-known and most iconic of all agaves, this medium to large species boasts a massive basal rosette up to 10 feet wide. Its thick, blue-green leaves are often reflexed, giving it a distinctive, sculptural form that demands attention in any landscape.
Agave angustifolia
With its narrow, sword-shaped leaves in shades of green, yellow, and grey, this wide-ranging species is a true chameleon of the agave world. Its variable characteristics have yielded countless cultivated varieties for enthusiasts to admire.
Agave applanata
Distinguished by its stiff, pale blue leaves and contrasting dark spines, this medium-sized variety is a stylish choice for those seeking an architectural accent in their gardens.
Agave asperrima
Similar to the iconic A. americana but with a more rigid and stylized form, this desert dweller from Zacatecas, Mexico, is a superior choice for garden use, adding rugged charm to any xeric landscape.
Agave attenuata
Imagine a clump of smooth, curving, spineless trunks adorned with rosettes of soft, blue-green leaves. This unique variety is a true head-turner, offering a graceful, sculptural presence like no other.
Agave avellanidens
Similar in appearance to Agave shawii var. goldmaniana, this medium-sized agave features rosettes that mingle and intertwine in their native habitat. Its ability to hybridize with related species creates intriguing variations for collectors to admire.
Agave Blue Ember
A mid-sized, tissue-cultured wonder, Agave Blue Ember captivates with its dark blue-green leaves adorned with smooth red edges and terminal spines. The lovely imprints on the leaf backs add an extra touch of artistry to this garden stunner.
Agave Blue Emperor
Elegance personified, this beautiful silver-blue variety tolerates light frosts and hot sun with ease. Its soft, bluish leaves with red-orange margins and black terminal spines create a regal display fit for any succulent enthusiast.
Agave boldinghiana
A member of the Viviparae section, this attractive, nearly stemless medium-sized agave forms rosettes with dark red spines from a young age. Its ability to offset freely creates crowded, eye-catching mounds in the landscape.
Agave bovicornuta
With its massive, bright green, spoon-shaped leaves sporting wicked teeth along the edges, this perennial beauty is a true showstopper. Its yellowish-green flower stalks, reaching up to 6 meters tall, add an extra dimension of drama.
Agave bracteosa
Aptly named for its tentacle-like leaves, this small, solitary or clumping rosette is a whimsical addition to any succulent collection. Its green, lanceolate leaves create a captivating display reminiscent of an undersea creature.
Agave cerulata
A small to medium-sized variety, this abundantly offsetting agave features yellowish leaves in neat, succulent rosettes. Its ability to form compact clumps makes it a versatile choice for borders or groundcovers.
Agave chazaroi
A true beauty, this species sports wide, very stiff, deep-green to bluish-grey leaves with striking red-brownish unarmed rims. When mature, its tall, unbranched flower spike adds an extra dimension of drama.
Agave chiapensis
Closely related to Agave warelliana, this medium-sized, robust agave boasts beautiful broad leaves, making it superficially similar in appearance to Agave celsii. However, its stouter, broader leaves set it apart as one of the greener gems in the agave world.
Agave colorata
With its broad, blue-grey leaves adorned with stunning leaf imprints, this attractive, wide-leafed agave is a true work of art. Its jagged spines along the margins add an extra dose of intrigue.
Agave Creme Brule
This Mexican native grows thick, silvery-bluish leaves in a bunch, with yellow and white flowers blooming near the base in spring and summer.
Agave datylio
Native to Baja California Sur in Mexico, this variety sports dark green, elongated leaves with teeth along the margins and a darker, sharper terminal spine. As it matures, the leaves gradually transition to a yellowish-brown hue.
Agave decipiens
Originating from Florida but also found in South Africa, India and Pakistan, this marsh-dwelling variety takes on a tree-like appearance. Its tall trunk can reach up to 4 meters, adorned with green, tapering leaves up to 40 inches long with toothed, spiked edges.
Agave deserti
Hailing from the arid regions of the Southwest, this small to medium-sized grey-green species is a true desert dweller. Its variable forms, from solitary rosettes to dense colonies, offer a range of options for the discerning gardener.
Agave desmettiana
This quick-growing, suckering succulent forms upright, urn-shaped rosettes up to 90 cm wide. Its smooth, fountain-like form and ability to produce numerous offsets make it a versatile choice for landscaping.
A rather vigorous, variable suckering species, this agave forms succulent rosettes 45 to 150 cm tall and wide. Its open, spaced leaves and ability to offset make it an interesting landscape choice.
Agave durangensis
This solitary Mexican species forms attractive rosettes of blue-green leaves with reddish margins and teeth.
Agave ellemeetiana
An evergreen Mexican succulent, this stemless variety grows light to dark green, waxy leaves in a rosette up to 24 inches tall with sharp, spiked edges, creating an eye-catching xeriscapic accent.
Agave filifera
Imagine a rosette of leathery leaves, each adorned with delicate white threads along its edge and tipped with a stout spine. This unique variety is a true showstopper, equally prized for its ornamental foliage and lovely purple and green blooms.
Agave flexispina
An attractive, symmetrical, small-sized agave rarely grown but related to Agave palmeri and Agave shrevei. This variety offsets occasionally once established.
Agave funkiana
A rather vigorous, variable suckering species forming open, succulent rosettes 18-59 inches tall and 18-71 inches wide.
Agave garciae-mendozae
Agave geminiflora
Picture a dense, symmetrical rosette of narrow, dark green leaves cascading outward in a graceful, undulating pattern. This monocarpic beauty produces pairs of flowers on towering stalks, making it a true spectacle when in bloom.
Agave gentryi
Similar in looks to Agave montana, this solitary, medium-large sized agave is fiercely spined along the leaf margins and tips. Hardy and well-suited for outdoor growing.
Agave ghiesbreghtii
An extensively offsetting medium-sized variety, forming neat succulent rosettes up to 30 inches in diameter and 20 inches tall. Its clumping habit makes it ideal for hedges or animal barriers.
Agave gigantensis
Don’t let the name fool you – while some plants are quite large, others are more modestly sized. This attractive, symmetrical agave features graceful, broad curving leaves and does not offset.
Agave x glomeruliflora
Similar to Agave gracilipes but distinguished by its longer 22-inch leaves with continuous corneous margins from base to terminal spine.
Agave guadalajarana
A usually solitary small agave that suckers occasionally. It forms compact rosettes 10-30 inches tall by 14-30 inches wide, broader than tall, with distinctive paddle-shaped grey-green leaves.
Agave guiengola
Native to Mexico, this fairly fast-growing agave delights with its uniquely shaped, silvery-bluish leaves. Its yellow and white blooms near the base add a pop of color to this succulent statement piece.
Agave gypsophila
A small, sprawling agave forming a loose rosette up to 6.5 ft wide of soft, fleshy, wavy gray leaves creating a fountain-like effect. Yellow flowers on 6.5-10 ft tall panicles.
Agave havardiana
With its short, silver-grey to nearly white triangular leaves and striking yellow to yellow-green blooms, this acaulescent species is a true desert gem. Its towering inflorescence attracts birds and bees alike.
Agave horrida
Agave hurteri
Agave impressa
A distinctive small to medium-sized variety, this agave has no close relatives. Its symmetrical rosettes with imprinted light green leaves converging to the tips are a true standout in the world of succulents.
Agave isthmensis
This variable, offsetting agave features powder-grey-blue ovate leaves with reddish-brown teeth and spines, creating a captivating display in miniature form.
Agave karwinskii
Vaguely reminiscent of a Yucca, this variety forms slender trunks up to 13 ft tall crowned with upright leaves.
Agave kerchovei
Hailing from Mexico, this stemless beauty forms rosettes spanning 2 to 5 feet wide, with dark green leaves sometimes adorned with speckled patterns or lighter margins, creating a captivating display.
Agave lechuguilla
Don’t let its unassuming appearance fool you – this small, trunk-less agave packs a punch with its sharp, rigid leaves lined with formidable teeth. Its yellow or reddish flowers add a pop of color to any succulent display.
Agave Little Shark
A compact hybrid between A. macroacantha and A. victoriae-reginae, this miniature marvel combines the best of both parents with its steel blue-green leaves edged in black. A perfect petite accent for gardens or containers.
Agave macroacantha
Forming dense clumps of blue-grey rosettes, this medium-sized variety is a true head-turner with its contrasting black terminal spines. Its purple-tinged green flower stalks add an extra dimension of beauty when in bloom.
Agave mapisaga
A huge Mexican native with massive gray-green rosettes spanning up to 9 ft tall and 1 ft wide fleshy, rigid leaves.
To easily identify the different agave types, refer to the agave identification chart below.
Aptly named for its greyish, marbled hue, this unusual mid-sized agave forms solitary large, broad leaves that develop striking transverse zones when grown in full sun, adding artistic flair.
Agave mckelveyana
A rare, dwarf species forming a tight rosette similar in size and shape to Agave deserti var. simplex.
Agave mitis
An architectural medium-sized agave, this solitary variety features compact rosettes with broad, finely denticulate leaves. Its dense, club-shaped inflorescence adds an exotic flair when in bloom.
A particularly handsome, solitary artichoke-like rosette of dark green, frosted leaves with contrasting reddish-brown spines.
Agave ‘Moonshine’
Native to Mexico, this aptly named beauty boasts blue-green leaf rosettes that seem to glow under the moonlight. Its broad, fleshy leaves are a sight to behold.
Agave murpheyi
An easily identifiable succulent with long, upright, dark green leaves arranged in rosettes with a horizontal gray-green pattern.
Agave obscura
A medium-sized, sometimes suckering rosette up to 3 ft wide of broad, soft, light green leaves with reddish teeth.
Agave ovatifolia
Dramatic, silvery-blue, distinctively cupped leaves up to 22 inches wide form a compact solitary rosette up to 22 inches tall.
Agave pachycentra
A magnificent, large agave with broad, light green leaves highly variable in size, form and coloring.
Agave palmeri
A compact, blue-green agave closely related to Agave schrevei and Agave applanata.
Agave parrasana
Imagine a compact, spherical rosette reminiscent of a globe artichoke, with short, broad leaves adorned with intricate bud imprints. This petite gem is a true showpiece for rock gardens or container displays.
Agave parryi
A slow-growing, compact gray-green rosette up to 13 ft tall with ornamental leaf imprints and bright yellow blooms.
Agave parviflora
True to its name, this diminutive delight forms symmetrical rosettes just 10-25 cm tall, making it an ideal choice for rock gardens or fairy gardens.
Agave peacockii
A solitary or slowly clumping succulent rosette growing up to 3 ft tall.
Agave pelona
A highly attractive Mexican cluster growing up to 3 ft tall rosettes with light to dark green, fleshy, spiked leaves.
Agave pendula
Native to Mexico, this variety forms a rosette of large, fleshy, sharp-edged, light to dark green leaves.
Agave potatorum
A true chameleon of the agave world, this small, slowly clumping variety offers a wide range of color variations, from green to yellow to nearly white. Its compact rosettes and variable form create a captivating display.
Agave pumila
A very slow-growing rosette with small leaves initially, but broad, thick leaves up to 18 inches long at maturity.
Agave pygmaea ‘Dragon Toes’
With its bluish-green leaves and red-tipped “toes,” this dwarf succulent is a whimsical addition to any collection, growing up to just 12 inches tall.
Agave ‘Royal Spine’
A regal Mexican native, this succulent forms compact, symmetrical rosettes nearly 18 inches wide. Its pale green leaves with brown borders extending to the tips are edged with even, crowning spines.
Agave rzedowskiana
A unique, compact variety reaching 18 inch diameter with up to 260 grayish-green, narrow 0.8 inch wide leaves.
Agave salmiana
Distinctive green leaves with long tips and large bracts subtending broad, pyramidal panicles.
Agave sebastiana
Also known as ‘silver lining,’ this American variety forms thick, pale green rosettes with triangular leaves bearing reddish-brown teeth along the edges, creating a silvery, metallic effect.
Agave seemanniana
A solitary, non-offsetting medium-sized agave recognizable by its compact rosettes of broad, glaucous plane leaves.
Agave shawii
Agave sisalana
The source of sisal fibers, featuring dark green, unarmed leaves in rosettes on short stems and greenish-yellow panicle flowers.
Agave Snow Glow
Originating from Mexico, this evergreen wonder boasts thick, long leaves in a rosette up to 18 inches tall. Its brownish-red outer borders surrounding creamy inner edges and dark green centers create a stunning tricolor effect.
Agave sobria
A small to medium, stemless to short-stemmed solitary rosette.
Agave striata
A densely suckering rosette with unique spiny, pencil-like foliage branching profusely from the base.
Agave stricta
Aptly named for its tight, spherical shape resembling a prickly porcupine, this small species is a true conversation starter. Its skewer-like leaves and ability to offset create a unique, textural display.
This Mexican native is the star ingredient in the beloved tequila spirit. Its compact rosettes and blue-green foliage add a touch of elegance to any garden or container display.
Varieties of Agave tequilana: Weber Blue Agave (Agave tequilana Weber var. Azul)
Agave titanota
A medium-sized, extremely robust-looking agave forming a solitary rosette up to 30 inches wide with ghostly white or round, green leaves.
Small, compact rosettes up to 10 inches tall that sucker readily from a central plant to form large clumps.
Agave triangularis
A slow-growing, short-stemmed, suckering agave forming open clumps of rigid, clustered, starburst-like rosettes.
Agave univittata
Stemless, suckering rosettes up to 5 ft wide of light green/yellow-green leaves, with or without a pale mid-stripe.
Agave utahensis
One of the most cold-tolerant agaves, with about 1 ft tall, slightly wider rosettes of narrow, toothed leaves.
Agave victoriae-reginae
Considered one of the most beautiful agaves, this regal beauty sports striking white markings on its rigid, lance-shaped leaves. It’s a true showstopper that commands attention.
Agave vilmoriniana
Imagine narrow, arching, and twisting leaves sprawling outward like tentacles, creating a captivating display reminiscent of an undersea creature. This medium to large accent plant is a true showstopper in any landscape.
Agave vizcainoensis
A medium-sized variety with highly variable leaf coloring ranging from green to shades of red.
Agave weberi
With its thick, pointed, nearly spineless leaves and moderate growth rate, this solitary or branching medium-sized variety offers a unique, architectural presence in any succulent garden.
Agave wocomahi
A handsome, moderate to large glaucous green solitary agave that reproduces only by seed.
Agave xylonacantha
Distinguished by its open, free-form rosettes and relatively few leaves compared to other agaves, this variety adds a touch of rugged elegance to any landscape. Its toothy leaf margins only add to its allure.
Agave zebra
A fast-growing 3-4 ft tall/wide agave with long, recurved gray “V”-shaped leaves beautifully cross-barred with silvery-green bands.
Don’t be fooled – the yucca may seem like agave’s rebellious cousin, but they’re actually close plant relatives! Part of the asparagus family gang, these perennials can’t stand frosty conditions like their veggie sibling asparagus.
While agaves reign over the hot, dry territories of Mexico and the U.S. Southwest, some yuccas venture into cooler mountain zones too. Whether they sprout in deserts or highlands, both families share a thirst for sunshine and a distaste for soggy soil.
Despite their rosette-style leaves, yuccas like the Spanish Dagger are the skinny supermodels next to agave’s fuller figures. That extra weight in agave leaves is pure, precious moisture that helps them thrive. Yuccas may be hardier overall, but chubbier is better when it comes to surviving drought!
One clear difference – yuccas can develop thick, woody trunks over time unlike their chunky agave cousins. So if you spot one looking extra tall and treelike, it’s probably had a little yucca work done over the years. Either way, both make for exotic, eye-catching garden accents!
Agaves may look tough as nails, but even these spiky superstars need some TLC. No worries though – keeping them happy is a total breeze! Just follow these simple tips:
Light
Agaves are full-on sunbathing addicts. They crave several hours of direct, blazing rays each day to look their brightest and best. Give them a sunny spot indoors on a windowsill or outdoors on your patio. But be careful – too much of a scorching good thing can leave them sunburnt and crispy.
Water
These drought-busters are pros at surviving on little to no agua. Only water them once the soil has completely dried out from top to bottom. When they’re newly planted though, agaves need a little more liquid love – maybe a drink every 3-4 days. As they settle in, slowly increase the dry spells between waterings until it’s down to almost never!
Soil
Bad drainage is an agave’s worst enemy. They demand those roots stay high and dry at all times! Use a gritty, well-draining soil mix and pots with drainage holes at the bottom to avoid any soggy pitfalls. A mildly acidic to neutral soil pH keeps them extra peppy too.
Fertilizer
Believe it or not, agaves are low-maintenance when it comes to food. During the growing season, an occasional balanced fertilizer meal once a year is plenty. Any more and you risk pushing them into an overgrowth spurt that cuts their life short before the big bloom.
Climate
These sun-worshippers originate from the hottest, driest spots on Earth, so they adore toasty temperatures. Most varieties thrive in the warm, arid zones 8-10. When winter arrives though, it’s vacation time! Bring any potted agaves inside so they can snooze through frosty conditions.
Pests and Diseases
Agaves are tough cookies, resistant to most bugs and ailments. But beware the agave snout weevil – this pesky beetle lays eggs that can rot the whole plant from the inside out over time. Preventing fungal root rot is also key by never over-watering.
Propagating Agave Plants
One of the coolest things about agaves is how easy they are to multiply! Whether you want to grow a whole prickly army or share the fun with friends, these plants are master propagators.
From Pups:
Gently remove any offsets or “pups” from the mother plant’s base, keeping their roots intact.
Let the pups take a rest for a few days in some light shade so they can grow a protective callus over their wound.
Grab a small pot and fill it with a well-draining soil mix.
Plant the pup at the same depth as before, placing it in a bright spot. Water whenever the soil dries out completely.
Once the pup establishes itself and grows a bit more, you can transfer it to a bigger home or the outdoor garden!
From Seeds:
Do your homework – some agave varieties need different soil, temperatures or light levels to sprout.
Fill a pot with your preferred gritty soil mix and sow the seeds on top.
Give the soil a light misting of water, then cover the pot with plastic wrap or a dome lid to lock in moisture.
Place the pot in a warm, indirectly lit spot and wait patiently – agave seedlings usually appear within 4 weeks.
Remove the plastic once the babies push through so they can breathe easy. Success!
