Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Majestic Agave
Majestic Agave, Agave franzosinii, is one of the giant agaves, with broad, arching leaves in a powdery silver blue-gray. A mature plant can reach 6 to 8 feet tall and 8 feet or more across. Give it an open, sunny spot where it can be the focal point of the yard. Young plants also make a bold accent in a large pot.
Best for: a single focal point in a large, open desert yard, and bold accents in a big pot while young.
A mature plant reaches 6 to 8 feet tall and 8 feet or more across. One plant anchors a large desert or xeriscape yard as a specimen.
Young plants make a bold, architectural accent in a large pot on a patio. Plan to move it into the ground as it grows.
It grows in full sun on low water once rooted. The broad, powdery blue-gray leaves arch out and catch the light in an open bed.
It gets too big for small beds and tight spaces. The leaf edges carry teeth and a sharp tip, so keep it well back from paths. Near hot reflecting walls, light afternoon shade cuts scorching.
- Group planting10 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.
Once rooted, water deeply but rarely during long summer dry spells, and let the soil dry fully. Keep it nearly dry in winter.
It is hardy to about 15 to 20°F, so a normal Valley winter is fine. Keep the soil dry in winter, since cold, wet soil is when rot sets in.
It makes pups over its lifetime, and they carry on after the mother plant blooms and dies. Cut them off with a clean knife, let the cut dry for several days, then plant them.
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 Majestic Agave get?
It is one of the giant agaves. A mature plant reaches about 6 to 8 feet tall and 8 feet or more across, and some grow 10 to 14 feet wide.
Does it need full sun in Phoenix?
Yes, it is grown in full sun. Near hot, heat-reflecting walls, light afternoon shade can cut down on leaf scorch.
How often should I water it?
It needs little water once rooted. In long summer dry spells, water deeply but rarely and let the soil dry fully. Keep it nearly dry in winter.
How cold can Majestic Agave take?
It is hardy to about 15 to 20°F. A normal Valley winter is fine. On a rare hard freeze, cover it with frost cloth that reaches the ground.
Does it make pups?
Yes. It makes pups over its lifetime, and they carry on after the mother plant blooms and dies. Let a cut pup dry before you replant it.
When does it bloom?
It blooms only once, after many years, often 15 years or more. A very tall stalk carries yellow flowers, then that rosette dies and its pups carry on, so leave a pup or two in place.
Does it have spines?
Yes. The leaf edges carry teeth and each leaf ends in a sharp tip spine. Give it plenty of room from paths and wear heavy gloves to handle it.
Can I keep it in a pot?
Young plants work as an accent in a large pot. It becomes too large for containers and small spaces, so plan to plant it in the ground.
Why is my agave soft or mushy?
Too much water or soil that stays wet is the common cause, and it leads to rot. Let the soil dry out between waterings and plant it where water drains away.
Is it poisonous to dogs or cats?
Agave is mildly poisonous if chewed. The sap can irritate a pet's mouth and skin and upset the stomach, and the teeth can scratch. Keep pets from chewing on it.
Majestic Agave for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Majestic Agave, Agave franzosinii, is a giant agave with broad, arching, silver blue-gray leaves. Below is what to expect in a Valley yard, from how big it gets, sun and water to cold, pups, blooming and how much room to leave it.
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How big does Majestic Agave get?
It grows about 6 to 8 feet tall and 8 feet or more across, and some reach 10 to 14 feet wide. It is one of the giant agaves, so plant it where it has room.
Does Majestic Agave need full sun in Phoenix?
Yes. It grows in full sun. Near heat-reflecting walls, light afternoon shade can cut down on leaf scorch.
How often do you water Majestic Agave?
It needs very little water once rooted. Water deeply but rarely in long summer dry spells, let the soil dry fully, and keep it nearly dry in winter.
Is Majestic Agave cold hardy?
It is hardy to about 15 to 20°F, which covers a normal Valley winter. On a rare hard freeze, cover it with frost cloth that reaches the ground.
Can Majestic Agave grow in a pot?
Young plants make a bold accent in a large pot. It grows too big for containers in time, so plan to move it into the ground.
When does Majestic Agave bloom?
It blooms once after many years, often 15 years or more, on a very tall stalk of yellow flowers. The rosette dies after blooming and its pups carry on.
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