Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Queen Victoria Agave
Queen Victoria Agave is a small, slow agave that forms a tight, round rosette of thick dark green leaves drawn with white lines. It grows about 1 to 2 feet tall and wide and keeps that tidy shape for many years. It fits pots, raised planters, rock gardens and small beds near the house. Give it fast-draining soil, plenty of sun and very little water.
Best for: pots and raised planters, rock gardens, and small beds by an entry or patio where the white leaf lines can be seen up close. A slow, long-lived agave that holds its round shape.
It grows so slowly that one plant can stay in the same pot or raised planter for years. Pick a container with a drainage hole and a fast-draining mix. Water when the mix is dry, and much less in winter.
It suits rock gardens, set among boulders and other cacti and succulents. Keep larger shrubs from growing over it, since it is small enough to get hidden. Once rooted it holds its shape there for years with almost no care.
Set it in a bed by the entry or patio, a little back from the walk. For a small group, plant two or three about 2 to 3 feet apart.
Soil that stays wet can rot it, so skip low spots and beds that get lawn water. In the hottest all-day sun it does better with some afternoon shade. Its sharp leaf tips can poke kids and pets, so snip them off near play areas.
- Tight group2 ft apart
- Looser group3 ft apart
Wait about 1 to 2 weeks after planting before you water, up to a month in cool weather. Then water about every other week while nights are above 60°F, and skip cool weeks unless it has been dry for weeks.
Once rooted, water deeply every 2 to 4 weeks in summer, about once a month in spring and fall, and little or none in winter. Cold, wet soil is harder on it than cold air, so keep it dry in winter.
It takes full sun, but in the hottest spots some shade after midday keeps it looking better. An east-facing bed works well.
It is rated down to about 10 to 12°F. On hard freeze nights, drape frost cloth or a sheet all the way to the ground, not plastic, and uncover it in the morning. Move potted plants next to the house.
Most plants stay a single rosette, but some make a few pups at the base. Dig those out with their roots to replant.
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 Queen Victoria Agave get?
It grows about 1 to 2 feet tall and 1 to 2 feet wide. It is very slow, so it can take many years to reach full size, and it can stay in the same pot or small bed for years.
Does Queen Victoria Agave need afternoon shade in Phoenix?
It takes full sun, but in the hottest low desert spots it does better with some afternoon shade. An east-facing bed or light shade after midday works well.
How often should I water Queen Victoria Agave?
Once rooted, a deep soak every 2 to 4 weeks in summer is enough. Water about once a month in spring and fall, and little or none in winter. Let the soil dry out in between.
Why is my Queen Victoria Agave soft or mushy?
Soft, mushy leaves or a plant that collapses point to rot from too much water or soil that drains poorly. Cut back the watering and make sure the spot drains fast.
How cold can Queen Victoria Agave take?
It is listed as cold hardy to about 10 to 12°F. Cold, wet soil is harder on it than cold air, so keep it on the dry side in winter.
Does Queen Victoria Agave make pups?
Most plants stay a single rosette. Some make a few pups at the base over time. You can dig those up with their roots and replant them.
Does Queen Victoria Agave bloom?
It blooms once, then dies, usually after 15 years or more. The flower stalk grows 10 to 15 feet tall, with cream to greenish flowers often tinged red or purple.
Does Queen Victoria Agave have spines?
Its leaf edges are smooth, with no side teeth. Each leaf ends in a short, sharp spine. Keep it a little back from walks and seating, or snip off the tips.
Can I grow Queen Victoria Agave in a pot?
Yes, it is well suited to pots. Use fast-draining soil and a pot with a drainage hole. Pots need water more often than plants in the ground.
Is Queen Victoria Agave poisonous to dogs or cats?
It is mildly poisonous if chewed. The sap can irritate a pet's mouth and skin, and the leaf tips can poke. Keep pets from chewing on it.
Can snout weevils get Queen Victoria Agave?
Yes, the agave snout weevil can attack it. Watch for leaves that wilt or wrinkle and a plant that rocks loose. Good drainage and not overwatering help most.
What is the difference between Queen Victoria and Variegated Queen Victoria?
The variegated form has the same round shape, with yellow or cream bands along the leaf edges. It also grows slowly, and it does better with more shade in summer.
Queen Victoria Agave for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Queen Victoria Agave is a small agave grown for its tight, round rosette of dark green leaves traced in white. It grows slowly and lives a long time. Below is what to expect from it in an Arizona yard or pot, from size, sun and water to cold, blooming and spacing.
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How big does Queen Victoria Agave get?
It grows about 1 to 2 feet tall and wide. Growth is very slow, and the plant can live for decades, so one plant can stay in the same pot or small bed for years.
Does Queen Victoria Agave need shade in Phoenix?
It takes full sun and does fine in part sun. In the hottest low desert spots it looks better with some afternoon shade. An east-facing bed is a good fit.
How often do you water Queen Victoria Agave in Arizona?
Once rooted, give it a deep soak every 2 to 4 weeks in summer. About once a month is enough in spring and fall. In winter it needs little or no water, since wet, cold soil can rot it.
How far apart do you plant Queen Victoria Agave?
For a small group, plant about 2 to 3 feet apart, center to center. Use 2 feet for a tight cluster and 3 feet to let each rosette stand on its own. The Spacing tab on this page counts plants for your bed.
Is Queen Victoria Agave cold hardy?
It is listed as cold hardy to about 10 to 12°F. On hard freeze nights you can cover it with frost cloth that reaches the ground. Take the cover off in the morning.
When does Queen Victoria Agave bloom?
It blooms once at the end of its life, usually after 15 years or more. A stalk 10 to 15 feet tall rises from the center. After it flowers, that rosette dies.
Growing Queen Victoria Agave in a pot
Its small size and slow growth suit pots and planters. Use fast-draining soil and a pot with a drainage hole. Water when the soil is dry, and less in winter.
Queen Victoria vs Variegated Queen Victoria Agave
Both have the same tight, round rosette with white leaf lines. The variegated form adds yellow or cream bands along the leaf edges. It wants more shade in summer than the plain green form.
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