Agave Varieties

4. Plant Description and Characteristics

Agave triangularis is a medium-sized agave, forming a striking rosette. Its leaves are arguably the most defining feature. They are thick, rigid, and triangular in cross-section giving it its name, appearing deep green to grayish-green, sometimes with a waxy coating (glaucous). The edges can be smooth or have small, fine teeth. A sharp, dark terminal spine caps each leaf. The leaves are arranged spirally, radiating outwards from the center creating a symmetrical shape and give the plant its elegant look. Some plants display beautiful variegation, such as yellow or creamy stripes along the leaf margins.

4. Plant Description and Characteristics

Agave triangularis ‘Subintegra’ offers an arresting aesthetic in the arid garden.

• Size and Growth Habit: This is a medium-sized agave, typically reaching a height of approximately 0.6 meters (2 feet) and a width of up to 0.9 meters (3 feet). Its growth habit is generally solitary, forming a rosette of leaves.
• Leaf Characteristics: The leaves embody distinctive features. They are, as the latin suggests, somewhat triangular in shape. The coloring of the leaves is a bluish-green, with a subtly textured surface, and they can present a slight curvature. The margins are subtly smooth, and in younger plants, occasional small, blunt teeth may be present on the edges. The leaves converge from a central point, creating a symmetrical arrangement. No spines are present; the leaves are unarmed.
• Flower Characteristics: Agave triangularis ‘Subintegra’ is monocarpic, flowering only once in its lifetime. When it does, it produces a tall, imposing flower stalk, reaching heights up to 3 meters (10 feet) or more. The stalk is often branched, bearing clusters of yellowish-green flowers. The timing is generally after a decade or more of growth; the blooming period usually occurs during the summer months, although this varies according to the climate.
• Unique Features: The key distinction of this species lies in its leaf shape, which is a unique arrangement that is between triangular and lanceolate, or spear-shaped. The absence of prominent spines is another distinguishing trait.

4. Plant Description and Characteristics

Agave turneri is a medium-sized agave, forming a solitary rosette – a single basal grouping of leaves – that can reach up to 2 to 3 feet (60-90 cm) in height and width. The leaves are thick and fleshy, typically lanceolate (spear-shaped), often with a slight curve or arch. The leaves are a striking bluish-grey color and often have a waxy coating, which conserves water. One distinguishing characteristic is the rounded and compact nature of its growth, especially the density of the leaf cluster from which new growth will emerge.

5. Uses

Agave univittata has a variety of applications, from the purely ornamental to the surprisingly useful:

• Ornamental Uses: This agave is highly valued in xeriscaping and desert gardens. It is well-suited to rock gardens, container planting, and landscape designs.

4. Plant Description and Characteristics

The Kaibab Agave is a visual statement, immediately arresting with its compact, architectural form. Instead of a flowing aesthetic, it embodies a primal form of strength and resilience, tightly focused in a rosette that rarely exceeds two feet in height and width at maturity. The leaves themselves are the centerpiece of this striking plant, presenting a striking contrast of muted colors, a gray-green to blue-green, further enhanced by a waxy surface that seems to capture and reflect the desert sunlight. Each leaf, a rigid, sword-shaped lance, ends in a needle-sharp terminal spine, a testament to its defenses against the elements and any would-be predators. The most notable aspect of the leaves, however, are the margins, each bearing a formidable array of reddish-brown to black spines that create a dramatic visual texture. Even the touch of the Kaibab Agave is a warning, a demonstration of the plant’s ability to survive in a harsh environment.

2. Origin and Natural Habitat

Agave utahensis subsp. utahensis, a denizen of stark beauty, finds its cradle in the arid and semi-arid landscapes of the Southwestern United States. This resilient species primarily graces the states of Utah and Nevada, a geographical imprint that directly informs its common name. Its presence extends, somewhat less frequently, into the sun-baked reaches of southeastern California and western Arizona. Within these regions, the Utah Agave demonstrates a preference for the challenging embrace of mountainous and canyon environments, clinging tenaciously to life in soils that are characteristically rocky and depleted of rich nutrients.

4. Plant Description and Characteristics

Agave utahensis var. eborispina is a relatively small to medium-sized agave, typically growing 1 to 2 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide. This compact nature makes it suitable for various landscape applications. Its leaves are stiff and succulent, ranging from a grayish-green to bluish hue and are of a lanceolate (spear-shaped) form, though they may also be nearly ovate. Without a doubt, the most captivating feature is the ivory colored spines that line the leaf margins and terminate into a large terminal spine. These spines are remarkably sharp and rigid. Leaf texture is generally smooth, covered in a waxy cuticle to reduce water loss. The leaves converge at the base which gives this plant that "clumping" look. As a monocarpic plant, Agave utahensis var. eborispina only flowers once in its lifetime, after several years (typically 15-30). A tall, branched flower stalk emerges, reaching up to 6-10 feet, offering a final, dramatic display as it bears yellow or greenish-yellow blooms before the plant inevitably dies, leaving a lasting image of desert resilience. The vivid contrast between the spiny structures and the leaf color truly makes is stand out. The prominent, ivory-colored spines are not always present in related agave species and represent their high desert adaptability.

Plant Description and Characteristics

Agave utahensis var. eborispina ‘Vegas’ is a slow-growing, striking succulent that forms a compact rosette. Mature plants typically reach a height of 1-2 feet (30-60 cm) and a width of 2-3 feet (60-90 cm). The overall shape is a symmetrical, compact rosette that gradually expands over time.

• Leaf Characteristics: The leaves are thick, fleshy, and lanceolate (spear-shaped) with a distinctive blue-green hue. They have prominent marginal teeth along the edges, and the terminal spine, or the spine at the end of the leaf, is sturdy and sharp. A defining feature of this variety is the ivory-colored spines that are typically associated with plants of this area.
• Flower Characteristics: The plant flowers only once in its lifetime (monocarpic), sending up a tall flower stalk (often several feet/meters tall) and flowering with yellow blooms. The blooms are attractive to pollinators.
• Unique Features: The ‘Vegas’ cultivar distinguishes itself from many of its Agave relatives. It is a highlight because of the thick, dramatic white spines and the overall symmetrical form.

4. Plant Description and Characteristics

The defining characteristic of the Nevada Agave is its leaves: they form a symmetrical rosette characterized by thick, rigid, lance-shaped blue-green hues that reduces heat absorption and water loss. The leaves have a slight curvature, offering an attractive form. The margins are guarded by sharp, dark brown to black spines that deter animals, and the terminal spine is also exceptionally sharp. This slow-growing, monocarpic plant flowers only once, typically after decades, producing a tall, dense, panicle-like inflorescence reaching up to 15 feet tall. The flowers, usually yellow or yellowish-green, attract pollinators before the plant’s demise.

4. Plant Description and Characteristics

Agave utahensis var. nevadensis ‘Compacta’ is truly a miniature masterpiece, typically forming dense, symmetrical rosettes. Here’s a closer look at its features:

• Size and Growth Habit: The ‘Compacta’ agave truly earns its name, reaching a mature height and width of only 12-18 inches (30-45 cm) in ideal growing conditions. Its growth habit is slow, making it a long-term feature in a garden setting.
• Leaf Characteristics: Leaves are thick, fleshy, and lanceolate (spear-shaped), with smooth margins. They are a stunning silvery-blue, often with a subtle glaucous (waxy) coating that helps minimize water loss. The leaves have a strong terminal spine, usually a dark brown or reddish color. Young plants have smaller, smoother margins and are more densely packed.
• Flower Characteristics: Unlike its larger cousins, Agave utahensis var. nevadensis ‘Compacta’ rarely flowers in cultivation, but when it does, blooming occurs on a tall (4-6 ft/1.2-1.8 m) unbranched spike. The tubular flowers are typically yellow or greenish, with a reddish hue developing during or post-bloom. The plant is monocarpic, meaning flowering marks the end of its life cycle, and it dies after flowering, but produces bulbils.
• Unique Features: What sets ‘Compacta’ apart is its exceptionally dense and tightly packed rosette. The leaves overlap closely, contributing to its compact form. Its muted color and the prominent terminal spines contribute to its unique character. Its slow growth rate also makes it very desirable as a long-term landscape feature.