The Agave utahensis is an excellent addition to anyone’s home. Learn how to keep your plant healthy and thriving because well-cared-for plants make for the most beautiful visual displays.
Use this guide when caring for your Utah Agave, but remember that each plant is unique and may react slightly differently to adverse conditions.
in this article:
About Agave utahensis
Agave utahensis is an evergreen succulent plant native to Utah and parts of Nevada, California, and Arizona. It’s commonly known as the Utah Agave because of its natural habitat.
Among Agave, the Agave utahensis is the most cold-tolerant plant. Hardy down to zones 6 through 10, it is incredibly suited to be grown outside in colder conditions than most other succulents.
Blue-green leaves form a tight rosette of succulent leaves. Each leaf is serrated with fine teeth and a terminal spine. Leaves curve upwards to form a deep channel within themselves.
It has become increasingly popular due to its drought-tolerant nature and cold hardy nature.
Agave utahensis is the recipient of the Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society.
Related Article: Different types of Agaves and their varieties
| Botanical Name | Agave |
| Common Name | Plant |
| Family | Asparagaceae |
| Plant Type | Succulent |
| Origin | California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Height | 1-2 feet |
| Width | 1-3 feet |
| Light | Full sun, Partial shade |
| Bloom season | Summer |
| Bloom color | Yellow, Gold |
| Water needs | Low |
| Soil | Well-Drained, Loamy, Sandy |
| Tolerant | Deer, Drought, Rabbit |
| Toxicity | Mildly-toxic |
| Hardiness (USDA) | 6-10 |
Agave utahensis Care
The Agave utahensis is a popular plant with an easy-to-care-for nature. It’s also known as the Utah Century Plant due to its long lifespan! This is the succulent for you if you want an Agave that will last for years with little to no maintenance.
Light
The Agave utahensis prefers full sun to partial shade. Too much shade will result in poor growth and small leaves.
On the other hand, if your Agave is not getting enough light, it will grow tall and thin with leggy leaves. In this case, move it into an area where it has more sunlight or supplement its needs with artificial lighting indoors.
Soil
The Agave utahensis prefers well-draining soil. If your succulent is stuck in a heavy, wet potting mix, it will rot and die.
To give your plant a good start, add some cactus soil or sand to its container before planting (at least one inch of the additional substrate). This will help improve drainage and reduce the chances of root rot.
Water
The Agave utahensis likes to be kept on the dry side. Therefore, water it once every three weeks during the summer, but do not let it sit in standing water for long periods.
In winter, when temperatures drop below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, allow your plant to dry completely and stop watering altogether until Spring.
Temperature and Humidity
The Agave utahensis requires warm temperatures to thrive. However, it is frost hardy to USDA zones 6 through 10, making it extremely cold tolerant down to about -18 degrees Celsius. Do note that the plant needs to be kept dry in colder weather regardless of frost-hardiness.
The Utah Agave will do best when the temperature is between 55 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit (12-24 degrees Celsius).
Fertilizer
The Utah Agave is not a heavy feeder. Therefore, it does best when fed sparingly. It is best to give it a balanced slow-release fertilizer during the summer months and no additional nutrients until the following Spring.
Pruning
The Utah Agave needs to prune sparingly. You can prune away any dead leaves you see; otherwise, it is best to leave the plant alone.
Potting and Repotting Agave utahensis
Agave utahensis is a very slow-growing plant. It will take over a decade for it to reach its full size and shape, so you should not repot it until it has outgrown its current container. When you repot the Utah Agave, use a pot that is slightly larger than the one it is currently in.
Summer (or Spring) is the best season for repotting as that’s when the plant will grow most actively and can recover from any damage to its roots during the repotting process.
Prepare
How to Repot (Step-by-Step)
- Gently remove the plant from its container.
- Use your trowel to gently remove any dead roots and debris from around the base of the plant.
- Carefully place the rootball into the potting soil, ensuring the roots are not bent or twisted as they go in (this will damage them).
- Cover with soil mixture until no exposed roots are visible on top of the soil.
- Water well with room-temperature water until the water drains from the bottom of your pot (this will help settle any air pockets).
- Place your plant in a sunny location away from drafts and heat sources and keep it watered regularly.
Propagating Agave utahensis by Offsets (Step-by-Step)
Agave utahensis offsets are small, new plants that form at the base of mature Agave. They are easy to propagate and help you quickly create a lush landscape! Here’s how to grow your own:
- Select an offset that is at least 6 inches long and use a sharp knife to cut the offset free from the mother plant
- Allow the offset to callus over for a few days to a week. Place the offset in a shaded, well-drained area with good air circulation and dry conditions.
- Plant your Agave in a well-drained soil mix when the callus has formed.
- Water lightly and keep out of direct sunlight for at least six weeks.
Blooms
Agave utahensis is monocarpic, which means it will flower once and then die.
After maturing (about ten years), the plant will send up a tall spike with large, showy flowers in the summer or fall. When the blooming period is complete, the plant dies back to its roots.
Offsets appear around the base of the Agave to continue the culture.
Toxicity
Agave utahensis is mildly toxic, causing gastrointestinal upset when ingested. In addition, the sap causes skin irritation, so avoid contact with the skin and eyes.
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 a small, black insect with a long snout. The adult female lays eggs under the leaf, where it feeds on the Agave. It can cause severe plant damage and should be controlled with an insecticide.
Scale Insects
Scale insects are small, immobile insects that live and feed on the surface of the Agave. They can be removed by treating them with neem oil. There are many different species of scale insects, but they all have similar life cycles.
Slugs and Snails
Slugs and snails invade agaves, especially during periods of drought. They will eat the leaves and leave behind holes in the foliage. They can also cause severe damage to the plant’s roots. Use organic bait to lure them into traps and catch them.
AVOID
- Overwatering
- Placing under harsh sunlight
- Using poorly drained potting mediums
- Fertilizing during dormancy
