402 gardener saves

Agave: the varieties gardeners actually grow

We track 86 varieties; these are the ones gardeners actually save and plant, ranked by real saves rather than catalog marketing. Each links to full care, bloom, and live price data.

86 varietiesZones 4–10Mostly full sun

The 12 most-saved Agave varieties

Of 86 in the catalog — ordered by how many gardeners actually grow them.

#1 most saved

Utah Agave Kaibabensis

Agave utahensis 'kaibabensis'

Zones 5–10· 41 saves

#2 most saved

Toumey's Agave

Agave toumeyana

Zones 5–10· 33 saves

#3 most saved

Slimfoot Century Plant

Agave x gracilipes

Zones 5–10· 32 saves· from $28

Artichoke Agave

Agave parryi 'truncata'

Zones 7–10· 12 saves· from $24

McKelvey's Agave

Agave mckelveyana

Zones 7–10· 12 saves

Frosty Blue Whale's Tongue Agave

Agave ovatifolia 'Frosty Blue'

Zones 7–10· 12 saves· from $34

Sotol Agave

Agave dasylirioides

Zones 9–10· 11 saves

Bed of Nails Agave

Agave parryi 'Bed of Nails'

Zones 8–9· 11 saves· from $24

Blue Glow Agave

Agave americana 'Blue Glow'

Zones 8–10· 11 saves

Vanzie Whale's Tongue Agave

Agave ovatifolia 'Vanzie'

Zones 7–10· 10 saves· from $34

Big Blue Agave

Agave x protamericana 'Big Blue'

Zones 8–10· 9 saves

Lemon Lime Agave

Agave x protamericana 'Lemon Lime'

Zones 8–10· 9 saves

Browse all 86 Agave varieties →

How to grow Agave

What the Agave varieties in our catalog actually agree on — drawn from the care records of the 40 most-grown of them, not from a generic template.

The Agave year

PlantMarch–May88% of varieties
Plant in spring or early fall in extremely well-draining soil.
Winter PrepOctober and November85% of varieties
Protect the crown from excessive winter moisture to prevent rot.
Check for PestsApril–July60% of varieties
Watch for the Agave Snout Weevil, especially in warmer months.
FertilizeMarch and April43% of varieties
Light feed with low-nitrogen fertilizer only if container grown
PropagateApril and May38% of varieties
Remove and replant offsets (pups) that form around the base.
Spring CleanupFebruary and March35% of varieties
Remove any old, damaged, or yellowing lower leaves.
PruneFebruary and March33% of varieties
Remove dead or damaged lower leaves using a sharp, long-handled tool

Do

Protect from frost in colder zones
Water deeply but infrequently 🌱
Use well-draining soil to prevent root rot
Use well-draining soil to prevent rot
Use well-draining soil

Avoid

Avoid overwatering, which can cause root rot ❌
Overwater, which can cause root rot ❌
Plant in heavy clay soil without amendments ❌
Overwater or keep in soggy soil ❌

What goes wrong with Agave

Problem	What you'll see	What to do
Mealybugs	White cottony masses on leaves	Apply insecticidal soap or neem oil
Scale insects	Brown or black bumps on leaves	Use horticultural oil
Agave snout weevil	Wilting and rotting at the base	Use soil drench with systemic insecticide and remove affected plants
Aphids	Sticky residue and distorted leaves	Use insecticidal soap or neem oil
Root rot	Soft, blackened roots	Improve drainage and reduce watering
Fungal infections	Dark spots or mold on leaves	Remove affected parts, treat with fungicide
Fungal leaf spots	Dark, necrotic spots on leaves	Remove affected leaves and treat with fungicide

Making more Agave

Seeds

Sow seeds on moist sandy soil (4 weeks).
Keep in warm, bright location.
Water lightly to maintain moisture.

Offsets

Gently remove offsets with a sharp knife (2 weeks).
Allow offsets to callus for 3 days.
Plant in well-draining soil immediately.
Water lightly after planting.

Agave questions

How many types of Agave are there?

The Sow catalog tracks 86 distinct Agave varieties. The most popular — ranked by 402 real gardener saves — are shown first above.

What zones does Agave grow in?

Across its varieties, Agave covers USDA Zones 4–10. Individual varieties differ — each plant page lists its exact range, and Sow filters the catalog to your zone automatically.

When does Agave bloom?

Most Agave varieties bloom in late summer, summer, mid-summer. Staggering early, mid, and late varieties extends the genus's season in one bed.

Which Agave should I choose?

Start from the most-saved varieties above — popularity across thousands of gardens is a strong signal of reliability — then filter by your zone and sun. In the Sow app you can preview any of them in a photo of your actual yard before you buy.

Keep exploring

Agave shows up in

By hardiness zone

Related genera

Design with Agave in your own yard

Snap a photo of your space and see these varieties planted in it — sized correctly, matched to your zone, with care reminders included.