Accent
Century Plant
Agave americana · Asparagaceae (Agavaceae)
Also called: American Agave, American Century Plant, Maguey, American Aloe
Century Plant (Agave americana) is a very low-water accent well suited to Tucson and the low desert. It thrives in full sun to partial shade.
Century Plant at a glance
- Water use
- Very Low (established)
- Sun
- Full sun to partial shade; tolerates intense reflected heat. Light afternoon shade keeps blue-gray foliage looking best.
- Mature size
- 3-6 ft H x 6-10 ft W rosette; flowering stalk shoots 15-30 ft tall. Offsets ('pups') form large colonies over time.
- Growth rate
- Moderate to fast (fast for an agave)
- Bloom
- Yellow to greenish-yellow flowers on a towering branched (candelabra) stalk, Once, after 10-30 years (not literally a century), in summer; the rosette is monocarpic and dies after blooming, leaving pups behind.
- Cold hardiness
- Hardy to about 15-20 F; USDA zones 8-11. Reliably hardy throughout the Tucson low desert.
- Soil
- Tolerant of most well-drained soils including poor, rocky, and sandy ground; needs good drainage to avoid crown and root rot.
- Native range
- Native to northeastern Mexico (and possibly Texas); now widely cultivated and naturalized across the Southwest, Mediterranean, and other warm regions. Not native to the Sonoran Desert/Arizona.
- Best used as
- Bold accent/focal point, Large xeriscape and Mediterranean-style designs, Slope and erosion control, Barrier planting
- Wildlife
- Flower stalk is a major nectar source for bats, hummingbirds, orioles, bees, and other pollinators; provides seed and cover. Variegated cultivars are common in trade.
- Toxicity
- Sap (saponins/oxalates) is irritating to skin, eyes, and mucous membranes and is toxic if ingested by pets and people; sharp spines pose injury risk. Site away from walkways, pools, and play areas.
How to grow Century Plant in Tucson & the low desert
Watering
Very drought tolerant once established. In Tucson, water established plants only every 3-4 weeks in summer and not at all in winter. Overwatering causes rot and weak, floppy growth.
Fertilizer & nutrients
Generally unnecessary in landscape settings; agaves thrive in lean soil. If desired, a single light application of low-nitrogen or balanced fertilizer in spring suffices. Excess fertilizer hastens flowering and reduces hardiness.
Pruning & care
Remove dead lower leaves and the spent flower stalk at the base. Dig out unwanted offsets to control spread. Wear gloves and eye protection; the rigid terminal spines and toothed margins are dangerous.
Notes
A large, aggressively colonizing agave best suited to spacious sites; the size and vicious spines make it unsuitable next to paths or patios. Variegated forms ('Marginata', 'Mediopicta') are popular. Plant where its eventual 6-10 ft spread and dangerous spines have room. Susceptible to the agave snout weevil, which often kills plants near bloom.
Sources: AMWUA 'Landscape Plants for the Arizona Desert'; University of Arizona Cooperative Extension; Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum