Agave, Caribbean, Century Plant, Mescal Agave, Narrowleaf Agave 'Marginata'

Agaveangustifolia

Genus
Agave (a-GAH-vee)
Species
angustifolia (an-gus-tee-FOH-lee-uh)
Synonym
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Foliage
Grown for foliage
Good Fall Color
This plant is resistant to deer
Height
24-36 in. (60-90 cm)
36-48 in. (90-120 cm)
Spacing
18-24 in. (45-60 cm)
24-36 in. (60-90 cm)
36-48 in. (90-120 cm)
4-6 ft. (1.2-1.8 m)
Hardiness
USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F)
USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)
USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 °C (30 °F)
USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 °C (35 °F)
Danger
Plant has spines or sharp edges; use extreme caution when handling
Bloom Color
Chartreuse (yellow-green)
Dark Purple/Black
Bloom Time
Mid Summer
Other Details
Category
Cactus and Succulents
Water Requirements
Drought-tolerant; suitable for xeriscaping
Foliage Color
Blue-Green
Chartreuse/Yellow
Where to Grow
Grow outdoors year-round in hardiness zone
Bloom Characteristics
This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds
Bloom Size
Other details
May be a noxious weed or invasive
Soil pH requirements
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline)
Patent Information
Non-patented
Propagation Methods
By dividing rhizomes, tubers, corms or bulbs (including offsets)
From seed; germinate in vitro in gelatin, agar or other medium
From bulbils
This plant is monocarpic
Seed Collecting
Allow pods to dry on plant; break open to collect seeds
Regional

This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:

Eufaula, Alabama

Lillian, Alabama

Orange Beach, Alabama

Fountain Hills, Arizona

Meadview, Arizona

Phoenix, Arizona

Tucson, Arizona(3 reports)

Bostonia, California

El Cerrito, California

Encino, California

Hidden Valley Lake, California

Irvine, California

Pomona, California

Reseda, California

San Dimas, California

San Leandro, California

Sun Valley, California

Valley Center, California

Yorba Linda, California

Boynton Beach, Florida

Brandon, Florida

Cape Canaveral, Florida

Clearwater, Florida

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Miami, Florida

New Port Richey, Florida

Niceville, Florida

Oldsmar, Florida

Orlando, Florida

Palm Coast, Florida

Patrick Afb, Florida

Pompano Beach, Florida

Saint Augustine, Florida

Venice, Florida(2 reports)

Vero Beach, Florida

Weston, Florida

Winter Springs, Florida

Kealakekua, Hawaii

Lake Charles, Louisiana(2 reports)

Metairie, Louisiana

Vacherie, Louisiana

Kansas City, Missouri

Henderson, Nevada

Las Vegas, Nevada

Grenoble, Rhône-Alpes

Summerville, South Carolina

Arlington, Texas

Austin, Texas

Harlingen, Texas

San Benito, Texas

show all

Featured Videos

Gardener's Notes:

12
positives
3
neutrals
7
negatives
Sort By:
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D
Fort Lauderdale, FL | March 2018 | positive

Agave angustifolia var. ‘marginata’ is one of only a dozen or so Agave sp. that will perform well in Ft Lauderdale, FL’s subtropica...Read More

O
Niceville, FL | February 2016 | positive

I saw a beautiful specimen at a big box store in the houseplant section, I had to get it. Although from what research I did at the time I...Read More

M
Austin, TX | October 2015 | positive

I have raised Agave angustifolia 'Marginata' plants for about 7 years. I have found them very easy to take care of. They are not invasive...Read More

J
Lake Charles, LA | November 2011 | positive

beautiful and fast growing.

J
Lake Charles, LA | October 2011 | positive

extremely fast growing and beautiful. here in s.w. louisiana, from a 4" big box purchase to a full 1x1 sphere with suckers in 7 months.

S
Hancock, MI (Zone 5a) | June 2011 | neutral

I was watching the 1951 scifi movie, "the thing from another world", and it was mentioned that the century plant eats mice. Is this true?

I
Scottsdale, AZ | November 2010 | negative

Use caution when trimming or removing as the sap can cause considerable pain, itching and blistering when it gets on your skin as I learn...Read More

T
Edinburg, TX | May 2010 | negative

This plant might be pretty to look at but I found out what a demon it is! Talk about the pain of hell and being on fire! YIKES!!! I had...Read More

P
Port Orange, FL | April 2010 | negative

I didn't know anything about this plant before I tried to prune it with a chainsaw. What a mistake. My legs and stomach were covered wi...Read More

R
Austin, TX | October 2009 | neutral

I have Agaves in my front yard and at my ranch where i am cultivating them for sale. I actually really like the plants. They are easy to...Read More

M
Palm Coast, FL | December 2008 | positive

This plant will grow just about anywhere there is at least 5 hours of full sun and in a relatively dry location with good drainedge, grow...Read More

J
San Francisco, CA (Zone 10a) | March 2008 | negative

Agave is a beautiful plant, but be careful! My mother recently cut some down with a chain saw, only to find that that she is very allergi...Read More

N
N
nme
Annandale, VA | September 2007 | positive

I was born and raised in a house where this plant grew. Our soil was lakebed sand. This plant grew behind our carport for the 18 years ...Read More

C
Henderson, NV (Zone 9b) | May 2005 | positive

I don't seem to have problems with this plant either. It grew quite fast in the past three years, but only produced two pups. I cut one...Read More

F
Melbourne, FL | January 2005 | positive

I think this plant is fascinating. The little suckers are easy to pull up from the ground by hand, roots and all. Just stick them in th...Read More

X
Phoenix, AZ (Zone 9b) | August 2004 | positive

I have had no problems with this being invasive here in zone 9a. Don't know about other zones. It grows slower than some of my other agav...Read More

T
Tucson, AZ (Zone 9a) | July 2004 | positive

The one at my old house finally bloomed, died, and tipped over. It was glorious. It produced only a handful of adjacent offspring which...Read More

X
Phoenix, AZ (Zone 9b) | July 2004 | positive

Beautiful plant. Seems to be well behaved. The ones I've seen & the one in my yard don't seem to be invading anything.

A
Austin, TX | June 2004 | negative

This plant is a horror. I live in Texas and planted the century plant not knowing what a big mistake this was. It has spread and I trie...Read More

A
Islamorada, FL | April 2004 | neutral

Getting impaled by the spines are extremely painfull.

I dig a hole , insert a big clay pot and then bury, this will conta...Read More

V
Lillian, AL | November 2003 | negative

This agave has spread all over and I agree it will come up near the base of other plants and it's hard to remove..I also thought it was a...Read More

P
Acton, CA (Zone 8b) | August 2003 | negative

This was a cute little Agave I bought at a local succulent sale one year- attractive, slightly spiny at the time and had a nice variegati...Read More

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