Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Agave horrida
Agave horrida is a compact agave from the high country of central Mexico, grown for its tight, symmetrical rosette of dark green leaves. Rows of evenly spaced teeth run down every leaf edge, which gives the plant its name. It stays about 2 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide, and usually grows as a single rosette. It suits containers, rock gardens and succulent beds, with occasional water.
Best for: containers and patio pots, rock gardens, succulent and cactus beds, and small spaces where a tidy, symmetrical rosette can be seen.
It can live for many years in a container. Use a pot with a drainage hole and a fast-draining mix, and let it dry out between waterings.
Its symmetrical rosette about 2 feet across fits rock gardens and cactus and succulent beds. It rarely pups, so it keeps its shape without dividing.
It stays about 2 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide, so it fits small beds and pots. Keep it a few steps back from where people walk.
It needs excellent drainage, and soil that stays wet can rot it. The leaf edges carry many sharp teeth and a hard tip spine, so it is a poor fit next to walks, seating and pools.
- Group planting2 ft apart
- Planted with more room3 ft apart
Plant into dry soil and wait about 1 to 2 weeks before the first watering, or up to a month in cool weather. Then water about every other week while nights stay above 60°F.
Water now and then in summer and let the soil dry nearly fully between waterings. Give it little water in winter.
It is hardy to about 25 to 30°F. On frost nights, cover it with frost cloth that reaches the ground and take it off in the morning. Move potted plants under a patio cover.
It grows as a single rosette with few or no pups. It blooms once, then dies.
Most agaves need no fertilizer. If you feed, use a light balanced fertilizer in spring or early summer, never on a new transplant and never in fall or winter. No pruning is needed.
Drainage test first. Dig the hole and fill it with water. If water is still sitting in the hole a day later, you likely hit caliche, clay or hard soil, so fix the drainage before planting. If it drains very fast, the soil is sandy. Standing water around roots is a common reason new plants fail.
Weed cloth. Cut it away from the planting hole and where the roots will spread. Remove any plastic sheeting completely, since it keeps water and air out of the soil.
Rock or decomposed granite with no soil underneath. Bring in soil close in texture to your native soil, mix it with the soil below, and build up enough depth for roots before planting.
If you can break through. Use a breaker bar, pick, or jackhammer. Dig through the caliche and break out the solid chunks. Backfill with the soil you dug out, with no compost or manure in the hole. Confirm drainage before planting.
If you cannot break through. Dig narrow holes through the hard layer beside the root ball, not under it, and refill them with the same soil, not gravel. If it still will not drain, plant on a low mound of the same soil.
Root ball. Check the outside edges for any roots circling around. Loosen or cut those so they grow outward. Do not break up the center of the root ball.
Depth. The top of the root ball should sit at or just slightly above the surrounding soil level. Planting too deep can lead to rot and kill the plant.
Drip emitters. At planting, put the emitters on the root ball, on different sides of the plant. After about 2 months, move them to the outer edge of the root ball. Over the first year, add emitters farther out toward the edge of the branches as roots grow. Once a plant is rooted, never water only at the trunk.
How big does Agave horrida get?
It grows about 2 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide. It usually stays a single rosette, so it does not spread into a clump.
What does horrida mean?
The name comes from Latin for horrible, wild or prickly, after the rows of sharp teeth along every leaf. Wear gloves when you handle it.
Does Agave horrida have sharp spines?
Yes. Many sharp, evenly spaced teeth line the leaf edges, and each leaf ends in a hard tip spine. Keep it back from walks, seating and pools.
Does it need shade in Phoenix?
It grows in full sun or part sun, and light shade suits it too. Plant it in a sunny rock or succulent bed, or where it gets a little afternoon shade.
How often should I water Agave horrida?
Water now and then in summer, and let the soil dry out almost completely before the next soak. Water very little in winter.
How cold can Agave horrida take?
It is listed as hardy to about 25 to 30°F. On hard freeze nights, cover it with frost cloth that reaches the ground, or move a pot against the house.
Does Agave horrida make pups?
It rarely does, and it usually grows as one rosette with few or no pups. There is little to dig out, but plan to replace it after it blooms.
Does Agave horrida bloom?
It blooms once, on a single unbranched stalk about 5 to 8 feet tall, and then that rosette dies. Since it seldom pups, plan to replace it then.
Can I grow Agave horrida in a pot?
Yes. It is often grown in containers and can stay in one for many years. Use a pot with a drainage hole and a fast-draining mix.
Is Agave horrida poisonous to pets?
Agave sap can irritate a pet's mouth and skin if chewed and upset the stomach. The teeth and tip spine can also poke. Keep pets from chewing on it.
Why is my agave soft or mushy?
Soft, mushy leaves point to rot from too much water or soil that drains poorly. Overwatered agaves also draw the agave snout weevil. Water less, and let the soil dry out between soaks.
Agave horrida for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Agave horrida is a compact agave from central Mexico with dark green leaves edged in rows of teeth. It usually stays a single, even rosette. Below is what to expect from it in a Valley yard or pot, from size, sun and water to cold and blooming.
Sourced from trusted Arizona growers and delivered directly to your door, job site, or property. We deliver across the Valley and to nearby towns, and quote delivery anywhere else in Arizona.
How big does Agave horrida get?
It grows about 2 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide as a single, symmetrical rosette. Because it rarely pups, it stays tidy in a small bed or pot.
Is Agave horrida good in a pot?
Yes. It can live in a container for many years. Use a pot with a drainage hole and a fast-draining mix, and water only when the soil is dry.
How often do you water Agave horrida in Arizona?
Give it a soak now and then in summer, and let the soil dry out nearly all the way first. Water very little in winter. Excellent drainage matters more than the schedule.
Is Agave horrida cold hardy in the Valley?
It is listed as hardy to about 25 to 30°F. On hard freeze nights, cover it with frost cloth down to the ground. Take the cover off in the morning.
Where does Agave horrida come from?
It comes from the high country of central Mexico, where it grows on volcanic soil. There the young leaves are eaten broiled and used to make a mescal.
When does Agave horrida bloom?
It blooms once, on an unbranched stalk about 5 to 8 feet tall, and then that rosette dies. It seldom leaves pups, so plan to replace it.
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