Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Arizona Star
Arizona Star is a variegated Weber's agave, found as a sport in a block of Weber's agave at an Arizona wholesale nursery. Its broad blue-green leaves carry a wide pale yellow band along each edge, with only tiny spines on the margins and one real spine at the tip. It forms a large, fountain-like rosette about 4 to 5 feet tall and 6 to 8 feet wide. Give it room in a large desert garden, in full sun or light shade.
Best for: a variegated focal point in a large desert garden, and open ground in sun or light shade.
The wide pale yellow bands stand out against the blue-green center of each leaf. One plant makes a strong focal point in a large desert garden.
It forms a rosette about 4 to 5 feet tall and 6 to 8 feet wide. Plant it where it can reach full size, about 4 to 6 feet from other plants.
It grows in full sun to light shade. Weber's agave can yellow from heat stress in summer, which a deeper soak helps.
It quickly outgrows small spaces. Poor drainage can rot it, and overwatered Weber's agaves draw the agave snout weevil. The tip spine is sharp, so keep it back from paths.
- 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.
Weber's agave can yellow from heat stress in summer. Give it a deeper soak when you see it, and let the soil dry between waterings.
Weber's agave is one of the agaves the snout weevil attacks most. Avoid overwatering, watch for wilting 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 Arizona Star agave?
It is a variegated Weber's agave, found as a sport in a block of Weber's agave at an Arizona wholesale nursery. Its blue-green leaves have wide pale yellow edges.
How big does it get?
It grows about 4 to 5 feet tall and 6 to 8 feet wide. Give it a large, open spot so it can reach full size.
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.
Does it need shade in Phoenix?
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.
Are the leaf edges spiny?
The edges are only barely spiny. The margins have tiny, hard-to-see spines, and each leaf ends in one real, sharp tip spine. Keep it back from walks.
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.
How is it different from Smooth Edge Agave?
Both are Weber's agave with the same care. Arizona Star adds wide pale yellow edges to the blue-green leaves.
Arizona Star for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Arizona Star is a variegated form of Weber's agave, the smooth-edge agave, first found at an Arizona wholesale nursery. It pairs a big, fountain-like rosette with bold yellow leaf edges. Below is what to expect from it in the Valley, from sun and water to size, 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 Arizona Star agave?
It is a variegated form of Weber's agave, discovered in a block of Weber's agave at an Arizona wholesale nursery. Its leaves are blue-green with wide pale yellow edges.
How big does Arizona Star agave get?
It grows about 4 to 5 feet tall and 6 to 8 feet wide, in a fountain-like rosette. Plant it where it has room.
How far apart do you plant Arizona Star?
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 Arizona Star in Phoenix?
Once rooted it needs little water. Soak it deeply in summer if the leaves start to yellow, and keep it dry in winter.
Is Arizona Star cold hardy?
It is listed as hardy to about 10 to 15°F. Use frost cloth on hard freeze nights.
Arizona Star vs Smooth Edge Agave
Both plants are Weber's agave. Smooth Edge has solid blue-green to gray-green leaves, while Arizona Star adds wide pale yellow bands along each edge.
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.