A great starter plant, Agave striata needs very little attention once you start. This eye-catching succulent is the perfect place to start if you’re looking for something a little bit on the low-maintenance side.
The narrow leaf century plant will serve well as an attractive, slow-growing houseplant with a long lifespan. It can serve as a focal feature in your home or office.
Here’s everything you need to know about caring for one of these beauties!
in this article:
About Agave striata
Agave striata is a succulent plant that grows in the desert and other warm areas of Northeastern Mexico.
It is a succulent shrub-like plant with long, narrow leaves that are usually green in color. The plant gets its name from these thin, stripy leaves radiating outwards from the center of the rosette.
The lance-like leaves are tipped with a sharp, brown terminal rosette that adds drama to the structure and makes the succulent quite unsafe to handle.
It is considered by the IUCN to be safe in its natural habitat.
Related Article: Different types of Agave succulents and their varieties
| Botanical Name | Agave striata |
| Common Name | Narrow Leaf Century Plant |
| Family | Asparagaceae |
| Plant Type | Succulent |
| Origin | Northeastern Mexico |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Height | 1-2 feet |
| Width | 2-3 feet |
| Light | Full sun |
| Bloom season | Summer |
| Bloom color | Pale yellow |
| Water needs | Low |
| Soil | Well-Drained, Loamy, Sandy |
| Tolerant | Deer, Drought, Rabbit, Dry Soil |
| Toxicity | Mildly-toxic |
| Hardiness (USDA) | 7-11 |
Agave striata Care
Follow these steps to ensure you provide the best conditions for your plants.
Light
Agave striata need full sun, so place it in a south-facing window if possible. If not, you can put the plant in the room with the most light.
The plant can easily grow in light shade conditions as long as its other needs are met, but the growth will be as vigorous.
If grown in full sun, provide some protection from the hot afternoon sunlight.
Soil
Agave striata are happiest when planted in soil that drains well. You can use a cactus mix or add perlite or charcoal to your regular potting soil for better drainage.
Water
Agave striata require very little water. Depending on the size of your Agave, you may only need to water it once every one or two months. However, if there’s no rain in your area for a while and your soil is dry, water it lightly every week or so.
Temperature and Humidity
Agave striata is not a plant that tolerates cold temperatures well if wet. Therefore, the ideal temperature range for this succulent is between 55 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
It also prefers a dry climate, so your Agave might not do very well if you live in an area with high humidity.
It is frost hardy to USDA zones 7 through 11, but only if kept completely dry.
Fertilizer
Agave striata is a slow-growing plant that doesn’t need much in the way of fertilizer. A balanced liquid fertilizer with a ratio of about 10-10-10 or 20-20-20 should be sufficient to provide your succulent with all the nutrients it needs.
Pruning
Pruning is not necessary for Agave striata. It will grow naturally without any human interference. If you want to trim it, prune off the tips’ edges using a sharp knife or clippers. You can also remove dead leaves this way. Just be careful when handling so as not to injure yourself on the sharps spines.
Potting and Repotting Agave striata
Agave striata can be transplanted in the spring or summer. If your plant is too big for its pot, repotting is recommended. Use a container slightly larger than the previous one so as not to shock the plant with a drastic change in environment; this will ensure your succulent stays healthy for longer.
Prepare
How to Repot (Step-by-Step)
- Remove the Agave from its old pot and gently shake off any excess soil.
- Brush away any debris stuck to the roots.
- Place the Agave in its new pot and fill it with soil up to about 1/3 of its height.
- Water the Agave thoroughly until water runs out of the drainage holes.
Propagating Agave striata by Offsets (Step-by-Step)
- Remove the pups from the mother plant.
- Make sure there are no thorns or sharp leaves on them, and they have roots attached.
- Allow it to heal for a few days.
- Plant them in a container filled with well-draining soil.
- Water lightly to help the offsets settle in.
Blooms
Agave striata are monocarpic, meaning it only flowers once in their lifetime. This plant will die after flowering, but you can propagate offsets from it to keep your collection going.
Flowers are borne on a tall 12-foot flowering stalk that rises from the center of the rosette. The flowers are yellow, clustering, and slightly fragrant. They can be pollinated by bees or hummingbirds attracted by the scent.
Toxicity
Agave striata are mildly toxic, with sap that can irritate the skin and cause itching. However, it is not known to be 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
The Agave snout weevil is the most common pest for the Agave striata. This weevil can be identified by its snout-like nose and black body with white spots. It eats holes in leaves, causing damage that looks similar to that caused by a leafminer.
Scale Insects
Scale insects are another common pest for the Agave striata. These pests can be identified by their hard, often circular bodies covered with a waxy coating. They suck sap from leaves and leave behind a secretion that attracts ants.
Slugs and Snails
Slugs and snails chew through the leaves, messing up the plant’s aesthetic. They leave behind trails of slime and can cause a lot of damage. If you find slugs or snails on your Agave, you should remove them immediately.
AVOID
- Overwatering
- Placing under harsh sunlight
- Using poorly drained potting mediums
- Fertilizing during dormancy
