19 Types of Agave Plants With Pictures 

This page provides pictures and descriptions of 19 types of agave plants with their scientific names. The information is organized in alphabetical order.

Agave plants are a type of succulent plant that grow in the deserts. They can be identified by their leaves, which are long and thin, and their flowers, which are usually yellow or green. There are 19 types of agave plants with pictures.

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Pictures of some of our favorite agave plant varieties for a drought-tolerant garden.

Agaves are wonderful.

Agave plants are among the most amazing of all succulents. It’s possible that they won’t bloom for decades. When they do, they may generate a massive flower spike that can reach heights of up to 30 feet. Agaves, like other succulents, can withstand drought. The most well-known agave is the one that produces tequila.

Planting Agave in Containers

Agave plants thrive in containers since they are often slow-growing and don’t desire to break out of their containers. Below, we discuss a lot about rosettes; if you look at an agave plant from above, you can see how the leaves create a round, rosette shape. This circular design is ideal for use as a container plant.

Agave Plants Come in a Variety of Shapes and Sizes

Agaves usually die once they have flowered (which can take decades), but some will send out shoots or ‘pups’, to create new plants. Many Agave Plants Come in a Variety of Shapes and Sizes have super sharp spines on the ends of their leaves, while others are smooth. Some are huge, while others stay small. There are some real showstoppers.

To help you choose the ones that suit your backyard best we’ve featured 19 different Agave Plants Come in a Variety of Shapes and Sizes below. Which are your favorites?

Different Agave Plants Come in a Variety of Shapes and Sizes with Pictures

Our height and spread estimations are based on agaves that have been cultivated in the ground. If you’re planting in a container or keeping your agaves inside as houseplants, you could witness less growth.

Agave parryi is a species of agave.

Parry’s agave, sometimes known as artichoke agave, is a kind of agave. 2 feet tall x 3 feet broad, with a 15-foot flower spike

Because it’s one of our favorites, this agave comes first on the list. In the image above, you can see how it received its artichoke moniker.

This agave looks great in a dry, rocky landscape with other succulents. The extremities of the wide, blue-grey leaves have black spear-like spines. The flower spike is massive, but like with many agaves, it may not develop for 10 to 15 years.

Agave attenuata is a species of Agave.

The foxtail agave, often known as the dragon tree, is a kind of agave. Height and spread: 5 feet tall × 8 feet broad, with a 10 foot arching flower spike

Because the foxtail agave has no spines, it’s a wonderful choice if you have a little area and don’t want to constantly rub up against your agave plants.

Those needle-sharp spines may be really painful! It’s a great option for an indoor or patio planter as a young plant. Green-yellow florets adorn the flower spike.

Agave filifera is a kind of agave.

Thread agave is the common name for this plant. 2 feet tall × 3 feet broad with an 8 foot floral spike

With distinctive creamy-white threads covering the leaves, this is one of the most attractive agave plant species. The leaves themselves are a vibrant green with a white edging.

It might take up to ten years for green-white flowers to bloom. When the original rosette dies after blooming, you may get additional plants.

‘Blue Glow’ Agave

Blue glow agave is the common name for this plant. 2 ft high x 3 ft broad is the height and spread of this plant.

A cross between Agave attenuata is a species of Agave. and Agave ocahui, this attractive blue-grey succulent has finely-toothed leaves edged with yellow and red.

When planted in a group, it makes a powerful statement in any rock garden. After blossoming, it will die back, although it will take ten years to reach that point.

Victoriae-Reginae

Royal agave, Queen Victoria agave are two common names for this plant. 12-18 inches tall × 2 feet broad, with a 15-foot flower spike

A small agave makes a fantastic container plant. Although this agave plant is modest, it may survive for 30 years and produce a towering flower spike with cream or purple flowers. The leaves have a black tinge to them.

Agave stricta (Strict Agave)

Hedgehog agave is the common name for this plant. 2 foot tall by 2 ft broad, with a 6 ft flower spike

This agave resembles a hedgehog or porcupine with its abundance of slender, dark green leaves topped with spines.

The leaves grow to be approximately a foot long. If your agave has the appropriate circumstances to blossom, little red flowers develop on a spike roughly 6 feet tall.

Tequilana agave

Blue agave, Weber’s blue agave, tequila agave, agave azul are some of the common names for this plant. 5 feet tall x 5 feet broad, with a 16 foot flower spike

The one from which tequila is manufactured. Because this plant requires a lot of room, you’ll need a large backyard. It’s a great addition to a desert garden. High elevations, about 5,000 feet, are also ideal for the blue agave. It’ll be around for a long time.

Desmettiana agave

Smooth agave is the common name for this plant. 3 feet tall by 5 ft broad, with a 10 ft flower spike

Because it’s a smooth-leaved type, this agave plant looks great in gardens. Sharp spines will not pierce your skin. It thrives in pots on patios and is an excellent choice for desert or rock gardens. A variegated version is also available.

Agave marginata (Agave americana), Agave mediopicta (Agave mediopicta), Agave mediopicta (Agave mediopicta

Maguey (century plant) is a common name for this plant. 6 ft tall × 10 ft broad, with a bloom stalk that may reach 30 ft in the wild.

This agave plant has the potential to grow to be very enormous. It will look wonderful in a container as a focal point. The variegated varieties of the century plant, Agave mediopicta and Agave americana marginata, are also lovely.

Agave macroacantha is a kind of agave.

Large-thorned agave, black-spined agave are two common names for this plant. 2 foot tall by 2 ft broad, with a 6 ft flower spike

This blue-grey colored agave has a striking aspect with one-inch black spines at the leaf ends. It’s a medium-sized plant that blooms after around 15 years. It features purple-green blooms on a 6-foot spike, which is quite short in the agave world.

Agave geminiflora is a kind of agave.

Twin-flowered agave, twin flower agave, pincushion agave are all common names for this plant. 2 feet tall by 3 ft broad, with a 10 ft flower spike

The compact rosette of the twin-flowered agave is made up of hundreds of tightly packed slender leaves. It contains creamy-white filaments, similar to some of the others on this list, and a large circular form.

Agave parviflora is a kind of agave.

Tiny flower agave, century plant with small flowers 8 inches high x 8 inches wide is the height and spread.

This may be the smallest type of agave plant we’ve featured here but Agave parviflora is a kind of agave. can still produce a flower spike of 3-7 feet in the right conditions. This cute agave is just perfect as a container plant. It has creamy yellow flowers which bees love.

Agave angustifolia is a kind of agave.

Caribbean agave is the common name for this plant. 4 feet tall x 4 feet broad, with a 16 foot flower spike

This one has very sharp spines on the leaf tips, so be warned. A vivid variegated plant, the green leaves have yellow margins. It’s attractive to pollinators when it flowers. Agave angustifolia is a kind of agave. will produce new plants by sending out suckers.

Agave vilmoriniana is a species of Agave. 

Octopus agave is the common name for this plant. 4 feet tall x 6 ft broad, with up to a 20 ft flower spike

The leaves of this agave plant have an interesting swirly pattern that resembles octopus legs.

Because its leaves are soft and pleasant to humans, you won’t mind going near to it. It’s a wonderful idea to plant this agave beside a route since it doesn’t mind if you brush up against it.

Potatorum Agave

Verschaffelt agave, butterfly agave, and toper’s agave are all common names for the same plant. Height and spread: 2 ft tall x 2 ft wide, with a bloom spike up to 15 ft long.

The leaves are supposed to mimic the wings of a butterfly. This is a slow-growing agave plant that may take up to 10 years to reach maturity. It’s a fantastic option for a container since it’s medium-sized. The butterfly agave will stop producing plants after it blooms.

Agave lophantha and Agave univittata are two species of Agave.

Thorncrest century plant is its common name. Height and spread: 3 ft tall x 2 ft wide, with a bloom spike up to 12 ft long.

This agave is a smart-looking plant with dark and mid-green colors that can withstand temperatures as low as -10 C. Agave lophantha quadricolor is a lovely variegated form with mid-green, dark green, yellow, and reddish stripes.

Agave montana is a kind of agave that grows in the mountains

Mountain agave is the common name for this plant. 5 ft tall x 5 ft broad, with a blossom spike of at least 10 ft.

The mountain agave thrives in cooler temperatures, with its spectacular rosette of deep green leaves. It grows at a height of 6,000-10,000 feet in the pine-oak woods of Mexico’s Sierra Madre Orientale. It can withstand temperatures as low as -10°C. Prepare for a magnificent 10-foot tree-like stem to grow when it blooms.

Agave bracteosa is a kind of agave. 

Squid agave, spider agave are common names for this plant. Height and spread: 2 feet tall by 2 feet broad, with a 5 foot bloom spike.

The spider agave is a drought-tolerant, slow-growing plant that works well in pots and looks great in a desert or rock garden. When the original rosette begins to die, unlike some other forms of agave plants, it will shoot out suckers to grow new plants.

Agave parrasana is a kind of agave.

Cabbage head agave (also known as cabbage head century plant) 2 feet tall by 2 ft broad, with a 20 ft flower spike

A small, slow-growing succulent with a lovely blue-green color. It will bloom, but it might take ten years – the flower buds are red and open to a golden color. This is another agave that, rather of withering off entirely, sends out suckers to generate new rosettes. Because of the harsh spines, this plant should not be planted near a walkway.

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The “agave desmettiana” is a type of agave plant. It has a long, narrow, and pointed leaf with a red-brown color. It is native to Mexico and the American Southwest.

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