Full sun. Evergreen; strongly formed, with heavy, toothed, spine-tipped leaves. Although it may not live for 100 years, each rosette spends many seasons storing energy and, for its final act (after 10-20 years) forms a tree-sized flowering mast with tube flowers that pollinators of all kinds go wild for. Be a good neighbor and don’t plant it within 5 feet of the sidewalk — it will grow much bigger than you think. Century plant is a favorite of western hummingbirds, bats, and WaterSaver landscapes. It provides a dramatic form in prominent locations.
Keeping the spiny, aggressive offsets in check maintains a tidy appearance; pups can be removed or replanted. Spines can be clipped to minimize the risk to pedestrian passersby.
In most years century agave is strongly evergreen, although many specimens were lost in the severe cold of 2021. In general, damaged foliage can be removed if needed after a freeze and, as long as the core is undamaged. Wear gloves; both the sap and thorns can cause severe irritation.Â
The classic southwestern agave: toothy, big, and blue.
