Agave Encyclopedia
Encyclopedia of popular agave varieties with traits, care guides, and pricing.
Featured Agave
Showing 41 of 80 species(25–41)
Agave Striata
Agave striata
An agave from central Mexico with dense, narrow needle-like leaves. Unique form distinct from typical agaves. Produces many offsets and forms clumps.
© Tangopaso / Public domainAgave Stricta
Agave stricta
Unique agave with needle-thin leaves spreading in a sphere. Sea urchin-like appearance is distinctive. Cold-hardy.
Agave Tequilana
Agave tequilana
The world-famous agave used to produce tequila. Called 'Blue Agave' for its blue-gray-green leaves. Grown extensively in Jalisco, Mexico. Also popular as an ornamental plant.
Agave Truncata
Agave truncata
A Mexican agave with distinctively compact rosette of short, thick leaves. Dense, wide leaves create an impressive sculptural form. Drought tolerant and beginner-friendly.
Desert Agave
Agave deserti
An agave native to California-Mexico deserts, tolerant of both heat and cold.
Dwarf Agave
Agave pygmaea
A palm-sized dwarf agave. Also called Dragon Toes, charming for its cute size.
Fireball
Agave × 'Fireball'
A cultivated agave variety displaying striking red-to-orange foliage that intensifies in bright light. Medium-sized with easy maintenance requirements. Popular as an accent plant in mixed succulent arrangements and landscapes.
© Daderot / CC0Giant Agave
Agave salmiana
A large agave used to make Mexican Pulque (fermented drink). Impressive with large thick leaves.
© Daderot / Public domainHavard's Agave
Agave havardiana
An agave from West Texas mountains with top-class cold tolerance. Survives -20°C.
© Stan Shebs / CC BY-SA 3.0Large-Thorned Agave
Agave macroacantha
A sharp agave with blue-gray leaves and long black terminal spines. Compact, ideal for balcony growing.
© Daderot / Public domainMountain Agave
Agave montana
A cold-hardy agave from Mexican mountains. Beautiful compact rosette with red spines.
© Stan Shebs / CC BY-SA 3.0Spider Agave
Agave bracteosa
A unique agave with soft spineless leaves spreading downward. Distinctive spider-like appearance.
© Stickpen / CC0Thorn-Crested Agave
Agave univittata
A sharp agave with central leaf line and serrated edge spines. Relatively fast growing.
© Dotti9 / CC0Thread Agave
Agave filifera
A unique agave with white thread-like fibers emerging from leaf edges. Small to medium, ideal for collections.
© This photo has been taken by Matthieu Sontag (User:Mirgolth) and released under the licenses stated below. You are free to use it for any purpose as long as you credit me as author, Wikimedia Commons as site and follow the terms of the licenses. Could you be kind enough to leave me a message on this page to inform me about your use of this picture. / CC BY-SA 4.0Twin Flower Agave
Agave geminiflora
A beautiful agave with many narrow densely packed leaves with threads. Radial form like green fireworks.
© marumg / CC BY-SA 4.0Weber's Agave
Agave weberi
A large agave with relatively few spines. Hardy common species used in gardens and public landscaping.
Whale's Tongue Agave
Agave ovatifolia
A large agave with wide round leaves like whale's tongue. High cold tolerance with beautiful blue-white 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.