Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Agave reineri
Agave reineri is a selection of Weber's agave, sold as Reiner's agave, with broad, battleship-gray leaves. The leaf edges are smooth, with only tiny spines, and each leaf ends in a dark brown tip spine. It forms a medium-large rosette about 4 to 5 feet tall and 6 to 10 feet wide. It makes a bold, soft-looking accent for a large desert garden in full sun or light shade.
Best for: a large gray accent in a desert garden, open ground with room for a wide rosette, and beds in full sun or light shade.
Its broad gray leaves make a bold, calm accent next to green plants and boulders in a large desert garden. Give it an open spot where the full rosette can be seen.
It grows about 4 to 5 feet tall and can spread 6 to 10 feet. Plant it about 4 to 6 feet from other plants and well back from walks.
The leaf edges carry only tiny spines, not the hooked teeth of many large agaves. The dark brown tip spine is still sharp.
It quickly outgrows small beds. Poor drainage can rot it, and overwatered Weber's agaves draw the agave snout weevil. Keep it on the dry side.
- Group planting4-6 ft apart
- Next to other plants4-6 ft from neighbors
Set it in dry soil at the depth it grew in the pot. Hold off watering for about 1 to 2 weeks in warm weather, or up to a month when it is cool. Then water about every other week while nights stay above 60°F. Light shade cloth for the first few weeks helps it settle.
Water deeply, then let the soil dry before the next soak. About every 2 weeks in summer and every 3 to 4 weeks in spring and fall is plenty. Cut back by October and let winter rain carry it.
Most plants never need fertilizer. If you do feed, use a light balanced fertilizer in spring or early summer, never on a new plant and never in fall or winter. No pruning is needed beyond removing dead lower leaves.
If the gray leaves yellow in summer heat, give the plant a deeper soak, then let the soil dry again before the next one.
The snout weevil favors Weber's agave. Keep the soil on the dry side, watch for wilting leaves and a plant that rocks loose, and remove an infested plant quickly.
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.
What is Agave reineri?
It is Reiner's selection of Weber's agave, first sold under the name 'Reinerii'. It has broad, battleship-gray leaves with nearly spineless edges.
How big does it get?
It grows about 4 to 5 feet tall and 6 to 10 feet wide. Plant it where it can reach full size without crowding walks.
How far apart should I plant it?
Plant about 4 to 6 feet apart, center to center. The Spacing tab on this page counts plants for your bed.
How much sun does it need?
It grows in full sun to light shade. If the leaves yellow in summer, that is heat stress, so give it a deeper soak.
How cold can it take?
It is listed as hardy to about 10 to 15°F. Keep it dry in winter and cover it with frost cloth on hard freeze nights.
Does it have spines?
The edges have only tiny spines, but each leaf ends in a sharp dark brown tip spine. Keep it back from paths and pools.
Does it make pups?
Weber's agave often makes pups around the base. Cut them free, let the cut dry for several days, then plant them.
Does it bloom?
Yes, once, at maturity, on a branched stalk about 20 feet tall with bright yellow flowers. After it blooms, that rosette dies, so plan to replace it with a pup. The bloom comes in spring or summer.
Can snout weevils get it?
Yes. Weber's agave is one of the agaves the snout weevil attacks most. Keep it on the dry side and remove an infested plant quickly.
Agave reineri for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Agave reineri is Reiner's selection of Weber's agave, grown for its battleship-gray leaves and nearly spineless edges. Below is what to expect from it in the Valley, from sun and water to size, spacing, 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.
What is Agave reineri?
It is a selection of Weber's agave, Agave weberi 'Reiner's Selection'. It has broad gray leaves with only tiny edge spines.
How big does Agave reineri get?
It grows about 4 to 5 feet tall and 6 to 10 feet wide. Give it open ground in a large garden.
How far apart do you plant Agave reineri?
Plant about 4 to 6 feet apart center to center. The Spacing tab on this page counts plants for your bed.
How often do you water Agave reineri in Phoenix?
Once rooted it needs little water. Give it a deeper soak if leaves yellow in summer, and keep it dry in winter.
Is Agave reineri cold hardy?
It is listed as hardy to about 10 to 15°F. Cover it with frost cloth on hard freeze nights.
Agave reineri vs Smooth Edge Agave
Both are Weber's agave with the same care. Reiner's selection is known for battleship-gray leaves with especially small edge spines.
We deliver across the Valley, from Phoenix, Scottsdale and Mesa out to San Tan Valley, Maricopa and Casa Grande, and up to Prescott, Sedona, Payson and Globe. See delivery areas and rates.