Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Saw Leaf Agave
Saw Leaf Agave forms an open rosette of long, sword-shaped, gray-green leaves edged with broad, wood-colored teeth that run together like a saw blade. It comes from the dry limestone slopes of northeastern Mexico and is a close relative of thorncrest agave. It grows about 3 to 4 feet tall and 4 to 6 feet wide. Plant it in full sun with fast-draining soil and occasional water.
Best for: sunny, dry desert beds, a bold accent among rocks and boulders, and open spots set well back from walks.
The broad, light-colored teeth along each leaf make it a striking accent in a desert bed or among boulders. Give it open space so the rosette shows.
Plant it in full sun in soil that drains fast. Once rooted it needs only occasional water, and none in most winters.
It grows about 3 to 4 feet tall and can spread 4 to 6 feet across. Plant it well back from paths and seating.
It is hardy only to the low to mid 20s, so cover it on hard freeze nights. Wet soil can rot it. The teeth and tip spine are sharp, so keep it away from walks and pools.
- Group planting4 ft apart
- Planted with more room5 ft apart
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.
It is hardy only to the low to mid 20s. On hard freeze nights, drape frost cloth to the ground and take it off in the morning.
The broad edge teeth and tip spine are sharp. Wear heavy gloves and long sleeves when you plant it or clear dead leaves.
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.
Why is it called Saw Leaf Agave?
The leaf edges carry broad, light-colored teeth that run together along the margin, like the edge of a saw blade.
How big does Saw Leaf Agave get?
It grows about 3 to 4 feet tall and 4 to 6 feet wide as an open rosette. Plant it where it has that much room.
How much sun does it need?
Plant it in full sun. Give it an open, dry spot where the rosette has room to spread.
How often should I water it?
Water it only occasionally once it is rooted. Let the soil dry out between soaks, and keep it dry in winter.
How cold can it take?
It is listed as hardy to the low to mid 20s, about 20 to 25°F. Cover it with frost cloth that reaches the ground on hard freeze nights.
Does it bloom?
It blooms only once, and mature plants do not bloom often. A tall spike of green-yellow flowers rises, and then that rosette dies.
What is it related to?
It is a close relative of thorncrest agave, Agave lophantha, and grows wild on dry limestone slopes in northeastern Mexico.
Are the teeth sharp?
Yes. The broad edge teeth and the tip spine are sharp. Keep it well back from walks, seating and pools, and wear gloves when you handle it.
Is it poisonous to pets?
Agave sap can irritate a pet's mouth and skin if chewed and upset the stomach. The teeth can also injure. Keep pets from chewing on it.
Saw Leaf Agave for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Saw Leaf Agave is an open, gray-green agave from the limestone slopes of northeastern Mexico, named for the broad teeth that edge its leaves. 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 Saw Leaf Agave?
Agave xylonacantha is an open agave with long gray-green leaves edged in broad, wood-colored teeth. It comes from dry limestone slopes in northeastern Mexico.
How big does Saw Leaf Agave get?
It grows about 3 to 4 feet tall and 4 to 6 feet wide. The rosette is open, with fewer leaves than many agaves.
How often do you water Saw Leaf Agave?
Water it occasionally once it is rooted. Let the soil dry out between waterings and keep it dry in winter. Soil that drains fast matters most.
Is Saw Leaf Agave cold hardy?
It is listed as hardy to the low to mid 20s°F. Cover it with frost cloth to the ground on hard freeze nights.
Saw Leaf Agave vs Thorncrest Century Plant
The two are close relatives. Saw leaf agave has gray-green leaves with broad, light-colored teeth that run together along the edge. Thorncrest has flat green leaves with saw-like teeth and clumps more.
Does Saw Leaf Agave bloom?
It blooms rarely, and only once. A tall spike of green-yellow flowers rises from a mature plant, and then the rosette dies.
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.