There are lots of different varieties of agave that look so amazing here in Phoenix. They require very little maintenance and do well in full sun with very little water. 

Agave Plant Care in Your Arizona Lawn

Some agave have thorns, some have spines and some don’t have any “arms” at all. Our favorite plants are the Octopus agave, Parry agave, Agave Americana & Blue agave.   

Century plant is another name folks in Arizona call agaves but there is actually a variety with that name as well.  

Agave Are Hardy Landscaping Plants

They are hardy landscaping plants in both the summer and winter months as long as they have good drainage. They only require water twice per month in the summer and only every 4-6 weeks in the fall and winter months. They love full sun and some varieties do okay with evening shade.  

They also can grow very large and because they are monocarpic they die after they bloom. However, they usually seed from this bloom and will grow many baby agave nearby that will reproduce in the yard.  

Because they grow large and usually have sharp edges you will want to make certain they are not growing near pathways or driveways.  

Pests That Can Kill Agave Plants

There are only 2 pests that can damage or kill agave:

Agave Running Bug – These pests are very small and usually hard to locate, but the symptom is usually white or yellow spots on the agave leaf, and you can treat them with insecticidal soap or broad-spectrum insecticide.

Agave Snout Weevil – These pests get to be about an inch in size and the females will lay their eggs in the heart of the plant; the larvae will later feed on this and kill the plant.  

Typically, you will start to see dark areas near the base of the agave or wilting leaves, and usually, it is then too late, since there is no known treatment for these bugs. 

It’s recommended that you remove the plants and give the area time before replanting the same species or go with a different type of plant in that area.

Pros and Cons of Agave Plants

Pros:

• Slow growing
• Low Maintenance
• Great for large areas
• Very hardy in summer and winter

Cons:

• Susceptible to pests 
• Sharp thorns
• Bad for small areas or near pathways

Here is a photo credit where much of this info can be found by the Arizona Landscape Contractors Association (ALCA)

https://www.instagram.com/p/COapBQWnxj7/

If you would like to see some current pictures of our work please click azlawns.com/pics.

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