Plants→Agaves→Black-Spined Agave (Agave macroacantha)

Small glaucous blue, blue-gray, or blue-green agave from southern Mexico which offsets via short rhizomes and clumps over time. Leaves are well armed, with sharp teeth and a stout terminal spine. The teeth may emerge reddish but they turn black as they age. Rosettes grow to about 10-16 inches wide. Inflorescences may grow to 6-10 feet tall, with short branches. Found in Puebla and Oaxaca. A member of the Rigidae.

This is a practical, drought-tolerant, sun-loving agave in cultivation. It does best in containers when offsets are removed every year or two. Bluer plants may be susceptible to rot if given too much water or too little drainage. Greener plants are said to tolerate more water. This agave does better with some overhead protection in hot desert climates.

[ Reply to this comment | (1) ]

This is a beautiful plant that varies from silver to bit more blue.with small black teeth edging part way down the leaf and a black terminal spine. They tend to clump freely and form nice, rounded mounds.

This species needs some shade in the low desert's intense sun, but almost no supplemental water - a once a month soaking in the hottest parts of Phoenix summer is sufficient.

There is some evidence that this plant is resistant to the Agave Snout Weevil, Scyphophorus acupunctatus.

Propagation is primarily through pups.

One of my absolute favorite Agaves, in case you couldn't tell. 8*)

[ Reply to this comment | ]