Accent
Weber Agave
Agave weberi · Asparagaceae (Agavoideae; formerly Agavaceae)
Also called: Weber's Agave, Maguey Liso, Weber Century Plant
Weber Agave (Agave weberi) is a very low-water accent well suited to Tucson and the low desert. It thrives in full sun. Expect yellow blooms late spring to summer.
Weber Agave at a glance
- Water use
- Very Low (established)
- Sun
- Full sun; tolerates reflected heat. Also grows in light shade.
- Mature size
- 4-6 ft H x 6-10 ft W (large rosette); flower stalk to 15-20+ ft
- Growth rate
- Moderate to fast (one of the faster large agaves)
- Bloom
- Yellow, Late spring to summer; monocarpic - the rosette dies after flowering but typically leaves numerous offsets/pups.
- Cold hardiness
- Hardy to about 10-15 F; USDA zones 8-11. Reliably cold-hardy in Tucson.
- Soil
- Well-drained soils of nearly any type, including poor, rocky, sandy, and alkaline native desert soils. Good drainage is important.
- Native range
- Mexico (long-cultivated maguey; presumed origin in northeastern/central Mexico). Not native to Arizona.
- Best used as
- Large accent / specimen, Background and screening masses, Desert and xeriscape gardens, Erosion control on slopes, Large-scale commercial plantings
- Wildlife
- Flowers provide nectar for bees, hummingbirds, and bats.
- Toxicity
- Sap is irritating (saponins/oxalates) and can cause contact dermatitis; the stiff terminal spine and marginal teeth can cause puncture wounds. Keep away from walkways and play areas.
How to grow Weber Agave in Tucson & the low desert
Watering
Very drought tolerant once established; survives on rainfall in Tucson but looks best with deep irrigation every 3-4 weeks in summer. Little to no water in winter.
Fertilizer & nutrients
Not required. Thrives in lean native soils; avoid fertilizing, as it grows large and fast already and excess nitrogen produces soft, frost-prone growth.
Pruning & care
Remove spent lower leaves and the flower stalk after bloom; remove pups to limit spread. Use heavy gloves and eye protection - leaves have small marginal teeth and a sharp, stout terminal spine.
Notes
A large, open rosette of broad, soft gray-green to blue-green leaves that arch gracefully. One of the largest commonly planted agaves; give it plenty of room. Suckers freely and can form colonies. Best used where its mature size (and spines) will not crowd paths.
Sources: AMWUA 'Landscape Plants for the Arizona Desert'; University of Arizona Cooperative Extension; Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum; Tohono Chul / Tucson Botanical Gardens plant references