Agave xylonacantha

Agave carchariodonta, Agave amurensis, Agave maximiliana, Agave perbella, Agave vanderdonckii

Saw Leaf Agave, Maguey diente de tiburón

Agavaceae

Native to drier limestone slopes and valleys on the desert side of the Sierra Madre Oriental at elevations around 3,000 feet in the Mexican States of Nuevo León, Tamaulipas, San Luis Potosi and Hidalgo

1 Gallon

individual rosette

3-4'

4-5'

20 to 25°F, -6.7 to -3.9°C

Very high

Part to full sun

Extremely drought tolerant

Remove offshoots and spent flower spikes as required. Trim spines if needed.

Superior container plant, good in xeriscape, cactus and succulent gardens. This plant has many varied spines along the leaf margins so locate it away from foot traffic. Deer and rodent resistant.

Plant readily sends out offshoots which can be removed and replanted. Seeds can be obtained after flowering.

Agave xylonacantha has a sparse number of pale grey-green lanceolate leaves with a lighter colored center stripe and broad light-colored almost papery irregularly-shaped spines that run together along the leaf margins giving them an undulating appearance. Leaf surfaces are rough like sandpaper and beautifully printed. Monocarpic flowering stalks can reach a height of 11 feet. Flowers are up to 1.5 inches in diameter with greenish tepals. This agave requires excellent drainage but is otherwise easy to grow.