General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Cactus/Succulent
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Full Sun
Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 8a -12.2 °C (10 °F) to -9.4 °C (15 °F)
Plant Spread: Up to 3-4 feet
Leaves: Evergreen
Fruit: Dehiscent
Flowers: Showy
Flower Time: Spring
Summer
Suitable Locations: Xeriscapic
Uses: Will Naturalize
Resistances: Deer Resistant
Drought tolerant
Toxicity: Other: The juice from many species of agave can cause acute contact dermatitis that produces reddening and blistering lasting approximately one to two weeks. Itching may recur up to a year later without a visible rash. Dried parts of the plants can be handled sa
Propagation: Seeds: Can handle transplanting
Other info: Sow in shallow pots with a well draining, sterile mix; 50/50 organic/inorganic of coarse perlite, pumice; sphagnum peat or good compost. Avoid manures. Irrigate from below by submerging in water to 1/2 height of pot. Provide bright, indirect light and a
Propagation: Other methods: Cuttings: Stem
Offsets
Other: Bulbils
Containers: Suitable in 3 gallon or larger
Needs excellent drainage in pots
Miscellaneous: With thorns/spines/prickles/teeth
Monocarpic
Conservation status: Least Concern (LC)

Conservation status:
Conservation status: Least Concern
Image
Common names
  • Saw-Leaf Agave
  • Maguey Diente de Tiburon
  • Woody Spine Agave
  • Century Plant
  • Maguey

Photo Gallery
Uploaded by mcvansoest
Location: Mesa, AZ.
Date: 2018-04-07
Location: Queretaro, Mexico
Date: 2016-12-14
Location: Mesa, AZ.
Date: 2018-02-19
Agave xylonacantha with an incipient inflorescence
Location: February, 2024
Location: Baja California
Date: 2021-09-07
Leaf underside. Rough texture, some glaucousness, dark green line
Uploaded by mcvansoest
Uploaded by mcvansoest
Location: Guanajuato, Mexico
Date: 2016-12-12
Location: Baja California
Date: 2021-06-09
Releasing the central bud from a toothy embrace
Location: Baja California
Date: 2021-10-05
Location: Guanajuato
Date: 2016-12-12
Location: Guanajuato
Date: 2016-12-12
Location: Queretaro, Mexico
Date: 2016-12-14
Location: Baja California
Date: 2022-04-12
Sunburned leaf
Location: Mesa, AZ.
Date: 2014-11-12
Location: Baja California
Date: 2021-09-07
Location: Guanajuato
Date: 2016-12-12
Location: Baja California
Date: 2021-06-11
Recently separated offset
Location: UC Berkeley Botanical Gardens
Date: 2008-11-06
Location: UC Berkeley Botanical Gardens
Date: 2008-11-06
Location: Baja California
Date: 2021-09-07
Leaf underside, blue clone
Location: Guanajuato, Mexico
Date: 2016-12-14
Location: Baja California
Date: 2021-09-07
Irregular, multicuspid teeth are not uncommon
This plant is tagged in:
Image

Comments:
  • Posted by Baja_Costero (Baja California - Zone 11b) on Sep 2, 2020 12:58 PM concerning plant:
    Small to medium greenish agave with extreme teeth from east-central Mexico. Ornamental, savage. Solitary or offsetting. Open rosettes may reach up to 3-4 feet, with relatively few leaves. Sometimes glaucous. The species name means "wooden spine" and refers to the gnarly, irregular, flattened teeth on leaf margins. The leaves may or may not be glaucous, and they may or may not have a pale center stripe. Yellow is a stress color. Leaves are rigid and have a rough texture. Margins are corneous, with prominent teats, and teeth may be multicuspid. Found at higher altitudes in Nuevo León, Tamaulipas, San Luís Potosí, Hidalgo, often growing on limestone. Some plants may be difficult to distinguish from A. univittata.

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