Foxtail Agave (Agave attenuata) in the Agaves Database

General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit:	Cactus/Succulent
Life cycle:	Perennial
Sun Requirements:	Full Sun
Minimum cold hardiness:	Zone 9b -3.9 °C (25 °F) to -1.1 °C (30 °F)
Leaves:	Evergreen
Fruit:	Dehiscent
Flowers:	Showy
Suitable Locations:	Beach Front Xeriscapic
Uses:	Will Naturalize
Resistances:	Deer Resistant Drought tolerant Salt 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:	Needs excellent drainage in pots
Miscellaneous:	Monocarpic

Common names

Foxtail Agave
Spineless Agave
Century Plant
Maguey
Elephant’s Trunk

Photo Gallery

Location: Baja California
Date: 2020-12-09

Uploaded by Baja_Costero

Location: Baja California
Date: 2017-12-29

Uploaded by Baja_Costero

Location: San Clemente
Date: 2019-01-14
No more grass.

Uploaded by succulentlife

Location: Baja California
Date: 2009-11-16
Inflorescences grow toward the south

Uploaded by Baja_Costero

Uploaded by Calif_Sue

Location: Baja California
Date: 2010-04-11
Transplant

Uploaded by Baja_Costero

Location: Baja California
Date: 2021-01-06
Illuminated by streetlight

Uploaded by Baja_Costero

Location: Menton, France
Date: January 1, 2024

Uploaded by cliftoncat

Location: Baja California
Date: 2024-12-27

Uploaded by Baja_Costero

Location: Baja California
Date: 2017-12-29
Basal offsets also flowering in abbreviated form

Uploaded by Baja_Costero

Location: San Antonio Botanical Garden, San Antonio, Texas
Date: 2022-04-04

Uploaded by sedumzz

Location: Baja California
Date: 2024-12-27
Buds dangling in front

Uploaded by Baja_Costero

Location: Baja California
Date: 2020-10-22

Uploaded by Baja_Costero

Location: Baja California
Date: 2010-02-23

Uploaded by Baja_Costero

Location: Baja California
Date: 2020-11-26

Uploaded by Baja_Costero

Location: Rio de Janeiro
Date: 2023-06-10

Uploaded by EpisciaLady

Location: Baja California
Date: 2021-01-19
Double pistil

Uploaded by Baja_Costero

Location: Baja California
Date: 2013-04-10
Hail damage

Uploaded by Baja_Costero

Uploaded by robertduval14

Location: Baja California
Date: 2014-11-21

Uploaded by Baja_Costero

Uploaded by EpisciaLady

Location: Barcelona, Spain |April, 2023 (uploaded. This image is much older)
Date: 2023-04-03

Uploaded by sedumzz

Uploaded by cliftoncat

Location: Baja California
Date: 2021-01-19
Satellite inflorescence

Uploaded by Baja_Costero

Location: Southwest Florida
Date: November 2013

Uploaded by Dutchlady1

Location: Oceanside, CA
Date: 2024-01-23

Uploaded by Calif_Sue

Location: Southwest Florida
Date: December 2013

Uploaded by Dutchlady1

Location: Baja California
Date: 2020-04-13
Roots are about as long as the leaves at this point

Uploaded by Baja_Costero

Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan
Date: 2023-01-04
Foxtail Agave

Uploaded by dnrevel

Uploaded by Calif_Sue

Location: RHS Wisley, Surrey, UK.
Date: 2022-08-04

Uploaded by RachaelHunter

Location: Baja California
Date: 2020-11-17

Uploaded by Baja_Costero

Uploaded by sedumzz

Uploaded by sedumzz

Location: Green Spring Gardens, Alexandria, Virginia, US
Date: 2017-08-20
Lion's tail (Agave attenuata). Called Swan's neck and Foxtail als

Uploaded by Nick_Kurzenko

Location: Baja California
Date: 2020-08-03
A few months away from flowering

Uploaded by Baja_Costero

Uploaded by cliftoncat

Location: Baja California
Date: 2017-11-25

Uploaded by Baja_Costero

Location: Baja California
Date: 2019-11-09
Axillary branches

Uploaded by Baja_Costero

Location: Baja California
Date: 2021-01-20
Agave flowers past and future

Uploaded by Baja_Costero

Location: Botanical garden of Madeira
Date: 2023-04-11

Uploaded by RuuddeBlock

Location: National Botanical Garden (DC) | November 2022
Date: 2022-11-26

Uploaded by sedumzz

Location: US National Arboretum, Washington DC, US
Date: 2014-08-10
Lion's tail (Agave attenuata). Called Swan's neck and Foxtail als

Uploaded by Nick_Kurzenko

Uploaded by Nick_Kurzenko

Location: Lloret de Mar-ish
Date: 2019-04-22
Second half of photo

Uploaded by skopjecollection

Uploaded by skopjecollection

Location: Cannes
Date: 2019-04-20
Offshoot

Uploaded by skopjecollection

Location: US National Arboretum, Washington DC
Date: 2014-08-10
Foxtail Agave (Agave attenuata)

Uploaded by Nick_Kurzenko

Photo courtesy of Annie's Annuals and Perennials

Uploaded by Joy

Uploaded by robertduval14

Uploaded by Calif_Sue

Location: Southwest Florida
Date: November 2013
This bloom spike is not yet done growing - it is currently 6 ft.

Uploaded by Dutchlady1

Uploaded by Bubbles

Uploaded by Calif_Sue

Location: Southwest Florida
Date: October 2013

Uploaded by Dutchlady1

Location: Howard Peters Rawlings Conservatory, Baltimore, Maryland
Date: 2017-02-01

Uploaded by csandt

Location: Lloret de Mar-ish
Date: 2019-04-22

Uploaded by skopjecollection

Location: Madeira. Botanic Garden.
Date: 2016-02-29

Uploaded by Orsola

Uploaded by Dutchlady1

Uploaded by jooshewa

Location: Washago, Ontario, Canada
Date: 2015-03-20

Uploaded by pjdksmith

Location: Washago, Ontario, Canada
Date: 2015-01-06

Uploaded by pjdksmith

Location: Baja California
Date: 2021-03-07
Accelerated senescence after flowering

Uploaded by Baja_Costero

Uploaded by robertduval14

Uploaded by Dutchlady1

Location: Southwest Florida
Date: summer 2009
young plant showing some variegation (not quite stable)

Uploaded by Dutchlady1

Location: Old Town Historic District, San Diego, California
Date: 2015-01-12

Uploaded by plantladylin

Location: In a public garden
Date: Sep 20, 2008 1:20 PM

Uploaded by Calif_Sue

Uploaded by rodolfocasti

Uploaded by plantladylin

Location: Old Town Historic District, San Diego, California
Date: 2015-01-12
Close up of the Foxtail Agave Leaves

Uploaded by plantladylin

Location: US National Arboretum, Washington DC
Date: 2015-05-15
Foxtail Agave (Agave atennuata)

Uploaded by Nick_Kurzenko

Location: US National Arboretum, Washington DC
Date: 2014-08-10
Foxtail Agave (Agave atennuata).

Uploaded by Nick_Kurzenko

Uploaded by Joy

Location: San Francisco Botanical Garden.
Date: July 31, 2004
photo by Stan Shebs

Uploaded by robertduval14

Uploaded by rodolfocasti

Location: Sarasota, FL
Date: 2015-04-30
At Selby Gardens

Uploaded by mellielong

Location: San Diego, California
Date: 2015-01-12

Uploaded by plantladylin

Uploaded by plantladylin

Uploaded by plantladylin

Location: Baja California
Date: 2021-06-03

Uploaded by Baja_Costero

Uploaded by treehugger

Uploaded by treehugger

Location: Museum of Toulouse
credit: Roger Culos

Uploaded by robertduval14

Location: Cactus oase (The Netherlands)
Date: 2017-05-13

Uploaded by RuuddeBlock

Location: San Francisco Flower & Landscape Show
Date: 2008-03-12

Uploaded by Calif_Sue

Location: Southwest Florida
Date: November 2013
at 6 ft. this bloom spike is not yet finished growing.

Uploaded by Dutchlady1

Location: Botanic Garden La Concepcion Malaga
Date: 2017-05-13

Uploaded by RuuddeBlock

This plant is tagged in:

Comments:

Posted by Baja_Costero (Baja California - Zone 11b) on Mar 27, 2016 2:43 PM concerning plant:

Spineless, user-friendly agave from central Mexico which can grow 2-3 feet (or more) of stem over time before it flowers and dies. The common name foxtail agave comes from the bushy shape of the inflorescence, which arches as it extends and falls under its own weight. The inflorescence grows toward the light, which usually means in a southerly direction, during the darker months of the year. 2-6 flowers appear per node, depending on the position on the stalk. The plant regularly offsets from the base and may persist indefinitely in gardens via this mechanism. Sensitive to extreme heat and frost. Drought tolerant. Will naturalize in mild climates. Given sufficient space, requires almost zero maintenance until it flowers and the main stem needs to be cut back. One of the better agaves for wetter climates (these thrive on Hawaii). Attractive variegated forms also available.

Reply to this comment
Posted by Dutchlady1 on Sep 29, 2011 2:05 PM concerning plant:

An outstanding plant which forms a trunk along the ground with pups growing from it.

Reply to this comment

Discussion Threads about this plant

Thread Title	Last Reply	Replies
ID question by Baja_Costero	May 31, 2023 12:29 PM	0

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Agaves Foxtail Agave (Agave attenuata)

Agaves

Foxtail Agave (Agave attenuata)