Accession Count: 1
Common Name:
desert agave
Family Name:
Asparagaceae
Botanical Name:
Agave deserti
Sub Species:
Variety:
Forma:
Cultivar:
Characteristics:
Desert agave has light gray-green, lanceolate shaped leaves that can reach up to two feet long with teeth that stretch to almost an inch long (about three-eighths of an inch). It is considered a winter evergreen that is non-invasive and does not emit a scent.The desert agave is pollinated by and is a food source for the California Giant Skipper moth (Agathymus Stephensi) (5).
Compound:
Aga dese
Geographic Origin:
Sonoran Desert
Ecozone Origin:
Nearctic
Biome Origin:
SW
Natural History:
The desert agave is native in the Lower Colorado River Valley of the Sonoran Desert. It is found most often in rocky or gravelly soils. It is the most common agave found on the northeastern border of the Sonoran Desert (4). It can be found in parts of Arizona, California, and Mexico.
Cultivation Notes:
The A. deserti has a very shallow root system that allows it to respond quickly to rain, in fact, most of the plant's growth occurs during a month of rains. Due to its affinity for water, it can be a very valuable resource for providing food, moisture, and shelter to wildlife. It is a very low maintenance species and grows best in hot, dry full sun environments.
Ethnobotany:
Among some of the wildlife that is drawn to the A. deserti, hummingbirds are one of the main visitors. As for humans, it is a very useful asset in mixed, desert shrub or succulent planting.
Height:
0 - 5 feet
Width:
0 - 5 feet
Growth Rate:
Slow Growing
Grow Season:
Summer
Flower Season:
ForeSummer
Color:
Yellow
Function:
Accent
Spread:
Non-spreading
Allergen:
Non-allergenic
Invasive:
Benign
Toxicity:
Benign
Hardy:
Hardy
Water Use:
Low water Use
Citations:
Turner, Raymond M, et al. Sonoran Desert Plants: An Ecological Atlas. University of Arizona Press, 1995.
4. Phillips, S.J. and Comus, P.W. (2000). A Natural History of the Sonoran Desert. Tucson: Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum Press. Print.
5. Agave deserti in Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center
