American agave (Agave americana, Sp. Pl.: 323 (1753))

Family: Asparagaceae

Author: L.

Bibliography: Sp. Pl.: 323 (1753)

Year: 1753

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Agave

Vegetable: False

Observations: S. U.S.A. to Mexico

Description

The American agave, scientifically known as Agave americana, is an iconic plant species widely recognized for its dramatic rosette of thick, fleshy leaves. This striking succulent belongs to the Asparagaceae family and is native to the southern regions of the United States and Mexico, thriving in arid climates where its adaptive features enable it to endure extreme drought conditions.

First described in 1753 by Carl Linnaeus in his seminal work “Species Plantarum” (page 323), the American agave has since garnered attention not only for its unique aesthetic appeal but also for its practical uses and cultural significance.

The American agave can grow to impressive sizes, with leaves extending up to several feet in length and edged with sharp spines that can act as a natural deterrent to herbivores. These leaves are coated with a waxy layer that minimizes water loss, an essential adaptation for survival in its native arid environments.

In addition to its ornamental value in landscaping and gardening, Agave americana has been traditionally employed for a variety of purposes. Historically, indigenous peoples utilized its fibrous leaves to produce textiles and ropes, while its sap was fermented to create beverages such as pulque, a precursor to modern tequila production.

Moreover, the American agave plays an important ecological role. It provides habitat and resources for various wildlife species, including pollinators like bats and hummingbirds, which are attracted to its large, towering flower spikes produced once in the plant’s lifetime—a phenomenon known as monocarpic flowering, where the plant flowers, sets seed, and then dies.

Despite its rugged resilience, the spread of Agave americana beyond its native range has occasionally led to concerns about invasiveness, as it can colonize and dominate ecosystems, outcompeting local flora. Consequently, appropriate management and cultivation practices are advised to prevent unintended ecological impacts.

Overall, Agave americana stands as a testament to nature’s ingenuity, combining beauty, utility, and endurance, making it a beloved plant among horticulturists, botanists, and those seeking to add a touch of desert elegance to their surroundings.

Common Names

Ita: agave, pitta, zabbara, zammara
Fra: agave d’amérique
Eng: american agave, american century plant, american-aloe, centuryplant, century-plant, century plant
Spa: maguey americano, acibara, agabe, atzavara, atzavara de tanques, azabara, cabuya, cardal, maguey, pita, pitaco, pitera
Swe: agave
Por: agave-azul, aloé-dos-cem-anos, cacto-dos-cem-anos, pita, pita-azul, piteira, piteira-azul, piteira-brava, piteira-de-boi
Ell: alades, alas, athanatos, lalas
Afr: garingboom
Deu: hundert-jährige agave
Cym: blodau canmlwydd, blodyn canmlwydd
En: American agave, Century-plant, American-aloe, American century plant, American Aloe, Blue Sisal, American Century-Plant, Centuryplant, Ashavara, Century plant, American Centuryplant, Flowering Aloe, Aloes, Agave, Maguey
Af: Garingboom, Blou garingboom
Ar: أغاف أمريكي
Hy: Ագավի ամերիկյան, Զարմունի, Հարյուրամյա հալվե, Շքուռ, Պերճածաղիկ
Az: Amerika aqavası
Bn: আগাভা আমেরিকানা
Bg: Американско агаве
Ca: Atzavara
Zh: 龍舌蘭, 龙舌兰
Cs: Agáve obecná
Nl: Honderdjarige aloë
Fi: Jättiagave, Jättiagaave
Fr: Langue à boeuf, Agave américain, Agave d’Amérique, Agave
De: Hundert-jährige Agave, Amerikanische Agave, Agave
El: Alades, Alas, Athanatos, Lalas
He: אגבה אמריקאית
Hu: Közönséges agávé
It: Agave, Pitta, Zabbara, Zammara, Ammiria, Corni, Filu di pitti, Invidia
Kk: Америка агавасы
Ky: Агава
Ko: 용설란
Lt: Amerikinė agava
Ml: ആനക്കൈത
Mr: घायपात
Ne: केतुके
Fa: آگاو برگ‌خنجری
Pl: Agawa amerykańska
Pt: Agave-azul, Aloé-dos-cem-anos, Cacto-dos-cem-anos, Pita, Pita-azul, Piteira, Piteira-azul, Piteira-brava, Piteira-de-boi
Qu: Paqpa
Ru: Агава американская
Sg: Ndûnda
Gd: Àlas ceud bliadhna
Es: Maguey, Agave amarillo, Pita, Maguey americano, Acibara, Agabe, Atzavara, Atzavara de tanques, Azabara, Cabuya, Cardal, Pitaco, Pitera, Cabuya de san Domingo, Sabila
Sv: Agave
Zh-tw: 龍舌蘭
Ta: ஆனைக் கற்றாழை
Te: అమెరికా కలబంద
Zh-hant: 龍舌蘭
Tr: Sabırağacı
Uk: Агава американська
Vi: Thùa
Cy: Blodyn canmlwydd, Blodau Canmlwydd

Synonyms

• Agave spectabilis (Salisb.)
• Aloe americana ((L.) Crantz)

Distribution

• Arizona (native)
• Mexico Central (native)
• Mexico Gulf (native)
• Mexico Northeast (native)
• Mexico Northwest (native)
• Mexico Southwest (native)
• Texas (native)
• Albania (introduced)
• Algeria (introduced)
• Amsterdam-St.Paul Is (introduced)
• Argentina Northeast (introduced)
• Ascension (introduced)
• Azores (introduced)
• Baleares (introduced)
• Bangladesh (introduced)
• Bermuda (introduced)
• Bolivia (introduced)
• Botswana (introduced)
• Brazil Southeast (introduced)
• Cambodia (introduced)
• Canary Is. (introduced)
• Cape Provinces (introduced)
• Cayman Is. (introduced)
• Chad (introduced)
• China South-Central (introduced)
• China Southeast (introduced)
• Colombia (introduced)
• Comoros (introduced)
• Corse (introduced)
• Costa Rica (introduced)
• Cuba (introduced)
• Dominican Republic (introduced)
• East Aegean Is. (introduced)
• Ecuador (introduced)
• Eritrea (introduced)
• Ethiopia (introduced)
• Fiji (introduced)
• France (introduced)
• Free State (introduced)
• Gilbert Is. (introduced)
• Greece (introduced)
• Guatemala (introduced)
• Guinea (introduced)
• Haiti (introduced)
• India (introduced)
• Italy (introduced)
• Juan Fernández Is. (introduced)
• Korea (introduced)
• Kriti (introduced)
• KwaZulu-Natal (introduced)
• Leeward Is. (introduced)
• Lesotho (introduced)
• Libya (introduced)
• Madeira (introduced)
• Marianas (introduced)
• Mexico Southeast (introduced)
• Morocco (introduced)
• Myanmar (introduced)
• Nansei-shoto (introduced)
• Nauru (introduced)
• New Caledonia (introduced)
• New South Wales (introduced)
• New Zealand North (introduced)
• New Zealand South (introduced)
• Norfolk Is. (introduced)
• Ogasawara-shoto (introduced)
• Pakistan (introduced)
• Palestine (introduced)
• Peru (introduced)
• Portugal (introduced)
• Puerto Rico (introduced)
• Queensland (introduced)
• Rwanda (introduced)
• Sardegna (introduced)
• Sicilia (introduced)
• Spain (introduced)
• St.Helena (introduced)
• Swaziland (introduced)
• Tasmania (introduced)
• Thailand (introduced)
• Trinidad-Tobago (introduced)
• Tunisia (introduced)
• Turkey (introduced)
• West Himalaya (introduced)
• Windward Is. (introduced)
• Yugoslavia (introduced)

Additional Images

Leaf

Taken Jul 10, 2018 by marig (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 26, 2020 by christ (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 25, 2017 by Fejul Xeto (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 11, 2020 by souaad Bizet (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 22, 2020 by motsi polyxeni (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Dec 24, 2017 by Fejul Xeto (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 24, 2017 by Fejul Xeto (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 24, 2017 by Fejul Xeto (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 24, 2017 by Fejul Xeto (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 24, 2017 by Fejul Xeto (cc-by-sa)

Flower

Taken Sep 1, 2019 by Pereira Jorge (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 18, 2019 by Ina van Delden van Delden (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 18, 2019 by Ina van Delden van Delden (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 15, 2019 by A.nasser Hakem (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 7, 2019 by Annabelle C (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Mar 2, 2022 by Armand dos Santos (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 10, 2020 by Vicenç Sole Ferre (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 25, 2020 by Leal David (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 25, 2018 by gianni del bufalo (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 30, 2019 by Antonio (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Oct 10, 2009 by EOL − Valter Jacinto (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken Jul 15, 2022 by Daria💙 Cadeddu❤️ (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 20, 2021 by apolline letellier chambon (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 25, 2021 by Lavall Catherine (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 21, 2022 by Medinka (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken May 22, 2019 by Food Story The Sustainable (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 29, 2012 by J. Champ (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 8, 2013 by Tela Botanica − George FOWLER (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 4, 2021 by Joan Francesc (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 21, 2019 by Josepe García (cc-by-sa)

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Sources

• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Agave americana L.)
• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/2767031)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:319063-2)

Specifications

Growth form: Single Crown

Growth habit: Subshrub, Forb/herb, Shrub

Growth rate: Slow

Growth

Ph maximum: 8.0

Ph minimum: 6.0