Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Variegated Century Plant
Variegated Century Plant is the classic century plant with wide creamy yellow bands down each leaf edge. The gray-green leaves and bright margins give a desert yard a bold yellow accent all year. It grows slowly into a big rosette about 4 to 6 feet tall and 6 to 10 feet wide. It takes full sun, reflected heat or part shade, and needs little water once rooted.
Best for: large desert beds, slopes and rock gardens, and spots in full sun, reflected heat or part shade. It is a slow, big agave whose yellow-edged leaves bring color to a water-wise yard all year.
The creamy yellow leaf edges give a desert yard a bold yellow accent all year. It is often used as the color point in rock gardens and water-wise yards.
It takes full sun and the reflected heat off walls and paving, and it also grows in part shade. Once rooted, a deep soak about every 2 weeks in summer is enough.
It grows about 6 to 10 feet across and can pup into a colony over the years. Slopes, hillsides and wide beds away from foot traffic give it the space it needs.
It is too big for small yards and narrow side beds, so give it open space. Its toothed, spine-tipped leaves are a hazard next to walks, patios and pools, and soggy soil can rot it.
- Tight group4 ft apart
- Looser group6 ft apart
Plant into dry soil and wait about 1 to 2 weeks before the first watering in warm weather, or up to a month in cool weather. After that, water about every other week while nights stay above 60°F.
Once rooted, water deeply about every 2 weeks in summer, every 3 to 4 weeks in spring and fall, and little or none in winter. Let the soil dry out between soakings.
Pups come up around the base and can grow into a colony. Pull them as they appear, or cut them free and let the cut dry for several days to a week before planting.
The sap can cause an itchy rash. Wear long sleeves, heavy gloves and eye protection when you cut leaves or pups, and wash off any sap with soap and water.
Snout weevils favor century plants. Watch for leaves that wilt or wrinkle and a plant that rocks loose. Keep the soil well drained, do not overwater, 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 a variegated century plant?
It is a form of the century plant, Agave americana, with creamy yellow bands along each leaf edge. It grows into a large rosette of gray-green leaves.
How big does a variegated century plant get?
It grows about 4 to 6 feet tall and 6 to 10 feet wide, and big old plants can grow larger. Use the Spacing tab on this page to plan around it.
Does it grow fast?
No, it is a slow grower. It takes years to reach full size, so plan the spot for the grown plant.
Can it take full sun and reflected heat?
Yes. It grows in full sun and reflected heat, and it also handles part shade.
How often should I water it?
Once it is rooted, water deeply about every 2 weeks in summer, every 3 to 4 weeks in spring and fall, and little or none in winter. Let the soil dry between soaks, since wet soil causes rot.
Does a variegated century plant make pups?
Yes. It can make many pups at the base, and over the years they form a large colony. Pull them to keep one plant, or replant them. Wear gloves and long sleeves, since the sap can irritate skin.
How cold can it take?
It is rated from about 10 to 20°F. On the coldest nights, cover it with frost cloth that reaches the ground and remove it in the morning. Do not use plastic sheeting.
When does it bloom?
It blooms once, usually after 10 to 20 years or more. It sends up a huge branching stalk with greenish yellow flowers, and then the mother plant dies while the pups and seed carry on.
Are the spines dangerous?
Yes. The leaves have stout teeth on the edges and a sharp spine at the tip. Plant it back from walks, patios, pools and play areas, or snip off the tip spines.
Is it poisonous to dogs or cats?
It is mildly toxic if a pet chews it. The sap can irritate the mouth and skin and upset the stomach, and the spines can poke, though serious cases are rare. Keep pets from chewing on it.
Can snout weevils attack it?
Yes. The agave snout weevil favors century plants. Look for wilting, wrinkled leaves and a plant that rocks loose. Good drainage and not overwatering help most, and an infested plant should come out quickly.
What is the difference between variegated and yellow striped century plant?
Variegated century plant has yellow bands on the leaf edges. Yellow striped century plant has a yellow stripe down the center of each leaf instead, and it stays smaller.
Variegated Century Plant for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Variegated Century Plant is a yellow-edged form of Agave americana, grown in Arizona as a big, slow accent for desert yards. Below is what to expect from it in the Valley, from size, sun and water to pups, cold, blooming and spacing.
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.
Is variegated century plant good for Arizona yards?
Yes. It is a yellow-edged form of the century plant, used as a big accent in rock gardens and water-wise yards. The gray-green leaves carry creamy yellow bands on each edge, and it needs little water once rooted.
How big does a variegated century plant get?
It grows about 4 to 6 feet tall and 6 to 10 feet wide, and old plants can get larger. It is slow, so it takes years to get there. Pups can widen the clump over time.
How far apart do you plant variegated century plants?
For a group, plant them about 4 to 6 feet apart, center to center. Each plant can reach 6 to 10 feet across, and pups can fill the gaps over the years. The Spacing tab on this page counts plants for your bed.
Does variegated century plant need full sun?
It does well in full sun and takes reflected heat, and it also grows in part shade. Give it soil that drains fast wherever you plant it.
How often do you water variegated century plant in Phoenix?
Once rooted, a deep soak about every 2 weeks in summer is enough. Water every 3 to 4 weeks in spring and fall, with little or none in winter. Always let the soil dry out in between.
Is variegated century plant cold hardy?
It is rated from about 10 to 20°F. On hard freeze nights, drape frost cloth to the ground in the evening and take it off in the morning.
What is the difference between variegated and yellow striped century plant?
Both are forms of Agave americana. The variegated century plant has yellow edges and grows into a big rosette. The yellow striped kind has a yellow center stripe and stays smaller.
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.