The illustrated growing guide
Agave (Century Plant)
Agave spp.
Family Asparagaceae
Est. zones 5-11
Living sculpture for the driest, hottest, most-neglected spot — some like 'Parryi' shrug off zone-5 winters. Plant it, ignore it for a decade, and one summer it launches an asparagus-stalk bloom 15 feet tall as its grand finale.
Full Sun
Low water
Slow growth
Attracts bees
Attracts butterflies
Attracts hummingbirds
None winter chill
From the print shop
The closest print we make
We don’t print Agave spp. The closest we have is Agave americana (“Agave”) in the Herbs, Greenery & Desert collection — the same genus, Agave, not the same species.
16 designsfrom $21.99white or black groundmatte poster, unframed
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Overview
Will agave (century plant) suit your garden, and what goes wrong.
Will it thrive where you are?
Enter your ZIP — we look up your USDA hardiness zone (2023 map) and check it against what agave (century plant) actually needs.
Hardy inZones 5-11Agave (Century Plant) at a glance
Common agave (century plant) problems
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Growing
Light, water, soil, propagation and the season’s jobs.
How to grow agave (century plant): light, water & soil
How to plant & propagate agave (century plant)
When to spray agave (century plant)
Growing season. Drainage is everything.
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The year
What agave (century plant) asks for, month by month.
The agave (century plant) year, month by month
No fixed season calendar for agave (century plant) — its care follows conditions, not the calendar.
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Ecology & uses
What it does for the garden, and what it is grown for.
Agave (Century Plant) in the garden system
What agave (century plant) is grown for
! Some parts toxic — see notesSap irritates skin; sharp — site away from foot traffic
Edibility, identification, and traditional-use notes here are general reference — not medical or veterinary advice, and not a claim that any plant treats or prevents anything. Medicinal ratings record how strongly a plant features in herbal tradition, nothing more. Never eat or dose a plant you have not positively identified. More on how to use this library.
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Cultivars
Named varieties of agave (century plant), ruled as a catalogue.
Best agave (century plant) varieties & cultivars
'Parryi' (hardy to z5!); 'Americana' (giant blue); 'Victoriae-reginae' (living sculpture); 'Blue Glow'
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Sources & plant ID
Where the care distinctions come from, and how the plant is filed.
Research basis
Sources behind this profile
No extension citations are attached to agave (century plant)yet. The care figures below come from the library's own catalogue rather than a traced primary source.
Plant ID
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Where to buy
Third-party nurseries — not Story Thyme Farms.
Third-party nurseries, not Story Thyme Farms. Prices are theirs.
Story Thyme Farms may earn a small commission from these links, at no cost to you — it never changes what we recommend. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
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Questions
Agave (Century Plant) questions, answered straight.
Is agave (century plant) safe for kids and pets?
With care. Sap irritates skin; sharp — site away from foot traffic Site it accordingly if children or pets roam the garden. This is general reference, not medical or veterinary advice — call a vet or poison control if something has actually been eaten.
How do you propagate agave (century plant)?
Stem/leaf cuttings, division, or pups.
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Elsewhere
Where agave (century plant) sits in the library.
Sunflower
Zinnia
Peony
Daylily