Agave Encyclopedia
Encyclopedia of popular agave varieties with traits, care guides, and pricing.
Featured Agave
Showing 8 of 139 species
© Michael Wolf ( Webseite ) / CC BY-SA 3.0Agave Albopilosa
Agave albopilosa
A rare agave with white cotton-like fibers at leaf tips. A relatively new species described in 2007.
Agave Colorata Variegated
Agave colorata f. variegata
Variegated mutation of Colorata. Blue-white leaves with yellow variegation create stunning contrast. Slightly less cold-hardy than normal form. Highly prized by collectors.
© Hectonichus / CC BY-SA 3.0Agave Guiengola
Agave guiengola
A beautiful medium agave with cream-colored edges. Rare species from limestone areas of Oaxaca.
Agave Nickelsiae (King Ferdinand)
Agave nickelsiae
Related to Victoria-reginae but smaller and more compact. Also called 'King Ferdinand.' Beautiful white paint-like leaf markings. Endangered endemic to Mexico.
Agave Sebastiana
Agave sebastiana
Rare species from Cedros Island, Baja California. Broad gray-blue leaves with striking reddish-brown margins. Slow-growing collector's species.
Agave titanota 'Snaggle Tooth'
Agave titanota 'Snaggle Tooth'
A variegated titanota with a broad, bright ivory edge, introduced by Mountain States Nursery in the US. With less chlorophyll it grows very slowly.
© NasserHalaweh / CC BY-SA 4.0Agave utahensis var. eborispina (Ivory-spined agave)
Agave utahensis var. eborispina
A variety of Agave utahensis whose small rosette of narrow leaves carries stout, ivory-white tip spines 10-20 cm long. Plants with wavy spines are also sold as 'Kagerou'.
© Stan Shebs / CC BY-SA 3.0Agave utahensis var. nevadensis (Clark Mountain agave)
Agave utahensis var. nevadensis
A variety of Agave utahensis forming small rosettes 15-25 cm across with slender, sharp tip spines, thinner and shorter than those of eborispina, and slightly shorter, denser-looking leaves.
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Agave FAQ
- How much do agave cost?
- Small Titanota seedlings cost 2,000-10,000 yen, medium plants 10,000-50,000 yen, and select or rare varieties like Hakugei and Caesar can exceed 100,000 yen. Prices vary greatly by variety and condition.
- Can beginners grow agave?
- Agaves are drought-tolerant and hardy, making them easy for beginners. Place in a sunny spot with well-draining soil, and they're quite hard to fail with.
- What are the key points for growing agave?
- Sunlight, airflow, and drainage are the three essentials. Provide direct sunlight, use pumice or akadama-based soil, and water only when the pot is completely dry.
- What should I check when buying agave?
- Check whether it's rooted, leaves are developing healthily, and lower leaves aren't excessively dried. Imported bare-root plants require root establishment, so beginners should start with rooted domestically grown seedlings.
- How long do agave live?
- Agaves grow over decades and bloom only once in their lifetime before dying. However, they produce offsets, so with proper care you can enjoy them across generations.