Agave marmorata (Marbled Agave): Growing and Care Guide

Are you looking for a way to keep your Agave marmorata plant healthy and beautiful? Want to learn the right way to care for this gorgeous succulent?

We’ve put together this handy guide to give you all the information you need to keep your succulent beautiful, happy, and thriving.

About Agave marmorata

Agave marmorata is a species of Agave that can be found in Mexico and the southwestern United States. It’s commonly referred to as marbled agave or marbled century plant because of its beautiful leaf markings. White bands cover the surface of the green leaves giving off a marbled appearance.

An individual plant usually forms a single, large rosette of broad, robust, gently curving succulent leaves. Their edges are lined with sharp teeth that can injure on contact.

Botanical Name	Agave marmorata
Common Name	Marbled Agave, Marbled Century Plant
Family	Asparagaceae
Plant Type	Succulent
Origin	Mexico, Southeastern USA
Maintenance	Low
Height	3-4 feet
Width	4-5 feet
Light	Full sun, Partial shade
Bloom season	Summer
Bloom color	Yellow, Gold
Water needs	Low
Soil	Well-Drained, Loamy, Sandy
Tolerant	Deer, Drought
Toxicity	Mildly-toxic
Hardiness (USDA)	9-11

Agave marmorata Care

Agave marmorata is an easy-to-grow, drought-tolerant succulent quite forgiving of neglect. It’s ideal for adding height and interest to your landscape without much time commitment from the gardener.

Agave marmorata can grow up to 4 feet tall but usually stay smaller in container gardens. In addition to their striking coloration and elegant form, these Agaves make excellent focal points in the garden or indoors as decorative plants.

Light

Agave marmorata is a succulent that grows well in full sun or light shade. It can tolerate full sun in the summer, but it will grow best with some protection from the hottest afternoon heat.

Plant the Agave in a location that gets at least 6 hours of direct sun each day.

Soil

Agave marmorata grows best in soil that drains well. It prefers sandy, loamy soil that is neutral or slightly alkaline.

If you have poor drainage, add some inorganic matter to the soil. This will help to improve drainage and prevent the roots from rotting.

Water

Avoid overwatering the Agave. The plant likes to be watered deeply and infrequently rather than frequently and shallowly. If the soil is dry 1 inch below the surface, water thoroughly until it drains from below.

It is extremely drought tolerant and will survive without water for extended periods.

In winter, you can reduce the watering cadence to once a month.

Temperature and Humidity

Agave marmorata prefers temperatures between 55 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. However, it does not tolerate frost, so you may need to protect it from cold temperatures if you live in a colder climate.

You should keep room humidity around average levels (around 50%). If it gets too high, you may notice the leaves drooping. If this is the case, increase ventilation or mist your plant daily until the humidity drops.

Fertilizer

Agave marmorata does not require fertilizer, but if you want to increase its vigor, you can use a balanced fertilizer (10-10-10). However, do not overfertilize; this could cause salt buildup in the soil and kill your plant. Try to only feed the Agave once during the plant’s first year of growth and then once every three years after that.

Avoid fertilizing in the cold months and only do so during the growing season.

Pruning

Agave marmorata is a typical agave plant and doesn’t need much pruning. You can remove dead leaves and spent flower spikes if they begin to look unsightly, but otherwise, leave your plant alone.

Potting and Repotting Agave marmorata

Agave marmorata is a slow-growing plant that can stay in the same pot for years. However, if you want to move your plant to a larger container or change its location, you can do so without worrying about stressing it.

When repotting an agave, avoid using soil treated with chemicals or fertilizers. Only repot in the spring when the growing season is just around the corner.

Prepare

How to Repot (Step-by-Step)

1. Remove the pot from the plant.
2. Use the scissors to cut any dead roots or those that are brown and brittle. This will help prevent rot in the new container.
3. Place some soil near the bottom of your chosen container and gently pat it down so it forms an even layer about ½ inch thick over the bottom of your pot.
4. Place the plant into the container and gently fill in around it with more soil until it is slightly below the rim of your pot.
5. Water your plant thoroughly and let it drain before returning it to its normal position in the garden or on a patio.

Propagating Agave marmorata by Offsets (Step-by-Step)

If you have a plant producing offsets, you can use them to propagate new plants. Offsets are small plants that grow from the base of mature agave plants and look like miniature versions of their parents.

Luckily for us, Agave marmorata is known for producing plenty of offsets throughout its lifetime that you can use for propagation.

1. To propagate from an offset, separate it from the parent plant and pot it in a soil container.
2. Don’t forget to give the cutting some time to callus over before repotting, though, as this is important to avoid root rot early on.
3. Water deeply and allow everything to drain out.
4. Keep the pot in a sunny and warm location and wait for new growth.

Blooms

Agave marmorata is monocarpic, which means that it will only produce one large flowering stalk in its lifetime before dying.

The flowering of an Agave marmorata can take between 7 and 15 years to occur as the plant has to mature enough to handle the stress.

A gigantic, 20-foot-tall stalk emerges from the center of the rosette once it’s time and sends up large yellow-gold flowers that attract pollinators of various kinds to the garden. It’s a spectacle!

Toxicity

Agave marmorata is mildly toxic. The sap can cause skin irritation, and the leaves are poisonous if ingested.

NOTE: This page is not intended as a substitute for veterinary advice. The toxicity of an ingested substance varies depending on the amount ingested, the animal’s weight, and its sensitivity to specific allergens. Contact your veterinarian or local animal poison control center immediately if you think your pet may have ingested a toxic substance.

Common Pests

Agave snout weevil

These small insects are about 3/8 inch long and black. They will chew on the leaves of your Agave marmorata, making small holes in them and ruining the appearance of your plant. The weevils can be controlled by hand-picking or using insecticidal soap to kill them off.

Scale Insects

Scale insects are small bugs that attach themselves to the leaves of your Agave marmorata and suck the juices out of it. You’ll see small bumps on the leaves, which are actually the insects themselves. They can be removed by hand or with insecticidal soap.

Slugs and Snails

Slugs and snails will devour the leaves of your Agave marmorata. They can be controlled by hand-picking or using snail bait to kill them off.

Common Problems

Agave marmorata (Marbled Agave):Easy Care Tips (Video)

FAQ