Agave Encyclopedia
Encyclopedia of popular agave varieties with traits, care guides, and pricing.
Featured Agave
Showing 7 of 139 species
Agave 'Sharkskin' (Sharkskin agave)
Agave nickelsiae × scabra 'Sharkskin'
A large hybrid with thick, triangular, dark grey-green leaves of a rough, shark-skin texture, neatly arranged. The margins are smooth and toothless, leaving only a stout tip spine. Thought to be a natural hybrid found in Mexico.
Agave Cupreata
Agave cupreata
Native to Guerrero, Mexico. Used in mezcal production. Wide leaves with copper-colored teeth give a wild appearance. Grows large at maturity.
© CDashley / CC BY-SA 4.0Agave gigantensis
Agave gigantensis
A large agave about 1 m tall and 1.2 m wide, with thick, smooth dark green leaves bearing large grey-white teeth. The name comes not from its size but from the Sierra de la Giganta in Baja California Sur.
Agave ovatifolia 'Orca'
Agave ovatifolia 'Orca'
A variegated whale's tongue agave: broad blue leaves bordered by a very wide creamy-yellow edge. A rare clone propagated from a plant found in the mountains of northern Mexico.
Agave shrevei subsp. magna
Agave shrevei subsp. magna
The largest of the three subspecies of Agave shrevei, forming handsome rosettes of blue-grey leaves. It grows where Chihuahua, Sonora and Sinaloa meet in the Sierra Madre Occidental of north-western Mexico.
© J Brew / CC BY-SA 2.0Agave utahensis subsp. kaibabensis (Kaibab agave)
Agave utahensis subsp. kaibabensis
The largest member of Agave utahensis, with leaves 3-5.5 cm wide forming rosettes up to about 1 m across. It grows on rocky outcrops around the Grand Canyon region of Arizona and looks quite unlike the small varieties.
Agave Wocomahi
Agave wocomahi
A large agave from Sinaloa to Chihuahua, Mexico. Traditionally used by the indigenous Tarahumara people for food and fermented beverages. Broad, blue-tinged leaves are characteristic.
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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.