About

Agave havardiana is a succulent perennial that forms rosettes reaching heights of up to 60 cm. Its leaves are a grey-blue-green and feature sharp spines along the edges. During the summer, the plant may produce flowering stalks that grow between 2 and 5 meters tall, bearing fragrant blooms that can be white, yellow, or yellow-green.

About the genus

Agave consists of either perennial or monocarpic succulents that develop rosettes of typically stiff, thick, spiny leaves. The plants produce funnel-shaped flowers in racemes or panicles that often exceed the height of the rosettes.

Growing conditions

Sunlight

Full sun

Soil type

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Soil pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

Soil moisture

Well-drained

Aspect

South-facing, East-facing, West-facing

Exposure

Sheltered

UK hardiness

H3

Plant details

Plant type

Cactus Succulent, Conservatory Greenhouse

Habit

Tufted

Foliage

Evergreen

Height

0.5-1 metres

Spread

0.5-1 metres

Time to full height

10-20 years

Suggested uses

Patio and container plants, Architectural, City and courtyard gardens, Coastal, Gravel garden

Native to

SW Texas to Mexico

Fragrance

Flower

Toxicity

Skin irritant. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. Pets (dogs, cats): harmful if eaten. For further information and contact numbers regarding pets, see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants

Care notes

Cultivation

This species is far more tolerant of cold and wet than most species and can often be grown outside in full sun in sharply drained, stony or sandy, dry soil; for more advice, see hardy cacti and succulent cultivation

Pruning

No pruning required

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown at 13-21°C in early spring, or by division of offsets in spring or autumn: if already rooted, treat as mature plants; if unrooted, plant in a mix of equal parts peat-free compost and sharp sand until rooted

Pest resistance

May be susceptible to scale insects and mealybugs, especially on young growth

Disease resistance

Generally disease-free