Full sun. Evergreen. Thick yellow-green rosettes are tipped with hard, sharp spines that easily pierce rubber, leather and skin. Lechuguilla grows in spreading colonies. It’s been used to provide easy erosion control on steep slopes (see it in San Antonio on the shoulders of US 281 alongside the Sunken Gardens).
A. lechuguilla is a more western species, growing from the Edwards Plateau west into the Chihuahuan Desert; A. lophantha is resident in southwest Texas and along in gulf coast areas to north-central Mexico. Both lechuguilla agaves make effective barriers in a garden setting.
Prune to remove dead, top-heavy or excess growth. Pups can be extracted with a shovel. (Heavy gloves, a long-handled shovel and pruners will be needed.) Avoid adding it to compost, since the hard thorns don’t break down.
A tough native agave great for erosion control.
