Agave Angustifolia Profile

Agave Angustifolia is not common in cultivation, having green leaves with marginal bands of bright white. The Agave Angustifolia leaves are borne from a very short trunk. Agave Angustifolia’s tight rosette of stiff, sword-shaped leaves, each up to 3 feet long and 2 inches wide, makes a dramatic statement in the landscape and is much favored for use in rock gardens. The sharp spine at the tip of its toothed leaves is often removed to protect people and pets. Locate Agave Angustifolia at least 6 feet away from walks and other areas where people could contact the spiny foliage.

Agave Angustifolia Picture

Agave Angustifolia Info

Common Name	century plant, variegated Caribbean agave
Botanical Name	Agave Angustifolia
Family	Asparagaceae
Plant Type	Perennial, succulent
Mature Size	1–20 ft. tall, 1–10 ft. wide (depends on variety)
Sun Exposure	Full
Soil Type	Sandy, well-drained
Soil pH	Acidic, neutral

Agave Angustifolia Native Habits

Agave Angustifolia is best known to be a beautiful looking succulent. As the Agave Angustifolia matures expect it to reach up to 1.2 m (4ft) tall and around 80 cm (30″) in diameter. Agave Angustifolia main feature are the long green sword like leaves with sharp pointed ends. When the Agave Angustifolia produces flowers expect green floweres.

Agave Angustifolia Distribution

Use Agave Angustifolia in containers or as a specimen in desert or tropical landscape settings. This handsome looking plant is native to Tamaulipas, Mexico and south to Guatemala, Costa Rica, and throughout the Caribbean, where it grows on open, rocky slopes.

How to Grow & Care for Agave Angustifolia

How to Grow Agave Angustifolia

Agave Angustifolia can be propagated by cuttings, leaves, offsets or seeds. This succulent type does not require repotting often. Of course, the first-time repotting is essential when Agave Angustifolia is bought from the store. You can learn all about How To Repot Succulents in our guide. Like all the other succulent types, a well-drained soil mixture is essential.

• With Seeds

Agave Angustifolia is a slow grower so even if it can be propagated by its seeds, this method is not recommended. To propagate from the seeds, plant the seeds in a well-draining soil mixture. This method can be used outdoors. In cooler areas, indoor propagating is recommended.

• With Cuttings

When propagating the Agave Angustifolia plant from cuttings, cut a leaf from the mother plant carefully with a clean knife or scissors. Before replanting, wait for a few days to allow it to callous. Use well-draining soil for your new Agave Angustifolia succulent plant. Don't forget to water when the soil dries out.

• With Leaves

When propagating the Agave Angustifolia plant with leaves. (Learn How to Propagate Succulents in detail here.) You should get a leave carefully from the mother plant. It should be a healthy leave that has no part left on the stem. In this way, the propagation will work. Before replanting, wait for a few days to allow it to callous. Use well-draining soil for your new Agave Angustifolia plant. Don’t forget to water when the soil dries out.

• With Offsets

Agave Angustifolia propagates from offsets. To be able to propagate from the mother plant, you might wait several years for the main plant to produce an offset. To start this process, use a sharp knife and remove an offset from the main plant. When you remove the offset, clean the extra soil from it. Before replanting, wait for a few days to allow it to callous. Use well-draining soil for your new Agave Angustifolia plant. Don't forget to water when the soil dries out.

How to Care for Agave Angustifolia

• Light

Full Sun.

• Soil

Agave Angustifolia will tolerate any well-draining soil, but their preference is rocky or sandy soil. Poor soil drainage can lead to root rot, which can kill a plant. Moreover, Agave Angustifolia like a slightly acidic to neutral soil pH.

• Water

Agave Angustifolia can be quite beautiful when it is well-taken care of. This succulent type needs typical watering as the other succulents. The watering method is very important to keep your Agave Angustifolia plant healthy. It should not sit on the water, and an excess amount of water should be avoided. The best way of watering is soak and dry method this succulent. Yet, the succulent should be controlled to avoid overwatering.

• Temperature and Humidity

Agave Angustifolia can't tolerate frost and only can grow as far north as USDA growing zones 8 or 9. But there are some, such as Agave parryi, that are reliably perennial to zone 5. Moreover, most agaves prefer a climate with low humidity. High humidity can lead to crown rot on the Agave Angustifolia plant.

• Fertilizer

During the Agave Angustifolia's growing season, spring through summer, you can feed with a specialized plant food, following label directions.

Agave Angustifolia Uses

Caribbean Aagave is a hardy survivor, tolerating heat, drought, and salty seaside conditions. Little if any irrigation is needed to maintain the plant once established. Agave Angustifolia grows best in full sun but can adapt to some shade. After 10 years or more (though not a century), a lofty flower spike is produced, with terminal panicles of pale yellow to white blooms. Agave Angustifolia can be used in residences as a free-standing specimen and is usually not planted in mass due to its unusual color and form. Due to its large size and striking habit and color, most residences only need one of these. Larger commercial landscapes have room for multiple mass plantings which can create a dramatic impact.

Varieties of Agave

There are many agave species that range in size and appearance, including:
Agave attenuata: This is a popular spineless variety, also known as the foxtail or dragon-tree agave. It grows around 4 to 5 feet tall and a bit wider.
Agave parviflora: Its leaves have white markings and curling filaments that give it a hairy look. It only gets about 6 inches tall and blooms in six to eight years with green flowers.
Agave tequilana azul: Weber's blue agave is used to make tequila, but it is also a very attractive garden plant, reaching upward of 6 feet tall and flowering in six to eight years with yellow blooms.
Agave victoria-reginae: As this plant matures its broad leaves cup inward, forming a dome. It reaches a height of about a foot, and cream flowers appear in 20 to 30 years.

Agave Angustifolia Common Pests/Diseases

Agaves generally have very few problems with pests and diseases. However, the agave snout weevil can burrow into a plant's center to lay its eggs, causing the Agave Angustifolia plant to collapse. Unfortunately, you probably won't notice this until it's too late to save the plant. So instead remove the plant to avoid the pests spreading to any other agaves you might have.

Agave Angustifolia Design Tips

The architectural form, coarse texture, and dramatic color of the variegated Caribbean agave make it perfect as a specimen plant in highly visible spaces in the landscape. Use with companion plants that are softer, with small foliage and mounding or spreading forms to contrast and highlight the tight rosette of the leaves. Pairing with plants that have more texture and small foliage will also contrast with the large, smooth, stiff leaves. To highlight the white margins in the leaves use dark green foliage or plants with small to medium flowers with cool bright colors, such as purples, blues, and corals. Another option is to build on the white theme with plants that have white flowers. Large flowers with a mass of soft petals will create more interest with contrast. Large masses of low-growing companion plants around the base or in front of the agave will create a nice setting to show off the form.