Century Plant
Agave americana
Bold architectural succulent that makes a dramatic statement in any landscape.
Fully hardy across Phoenix Zone 8b-10a, tolerating cold to about 15°F and taking full reflected summer heat without stress.
AMWUA Notes
Referenced in AMWUA guide under Weber's Agave as "also try A. americana Mediopicta".
Care Guide
Water established plants only once or twice a month in the hottest months and rarely in winter. It stores water in its leaves and rots easily in soggy or poorly drained soil.
Little pruning needed — simply cut off any browned or damaged lower leaves at the base. Remove offset pups around the crown to control spread and keep the rosette tidy.
Rarely needs fertilizer; if desired, apply a light dose of low-nitrogen cactus food once in spring. Over-fertilizing produces soft, floppy growth.
Watch for the agave snout weevil, which bores into the core and can collapse a mature plant; remove and destroy affected plants promptly. Also monitor for agave mites and scale.
Growth is slow and steady in the warm season. After many years the plant sends up a towering flower stalk, sets pups, then dies — so preserve the offsets to continue the planting.
Soil, Feeding & Propagation
Lean, gravelly, or rocky soils; thrives in fast-draining desert ground and resents rich, moisture-retentive soil.
Needs sharp, fast-draining soil.
None — thrives in lean desert soil without fertilizer.
Propagated from the offset pups around the base; also from seed or bulbils produced after the terminal bloom.
6-8 ft
Shallow, non-invasive roots, but offset pups spread outward and form colonies if left unremoved.
Placement Tips
- •Set as a bold solitary focal point where its 6-10 foot spread and spined tips are well clear of walkways, patios, and pool decks.
- •Underplant with low, colorful groundcovers or place among boulders and gravel for a clean desert-modern composition.
- •Keep away from lawns and high-traffic play areas — the rigid terminal spines and toothed margins are hazardous.
- •Plan for its eventual bloom-and-die: pair with faster-recovering agaves or offsets so the space is not left bare when the parent flowers.
Features
Best Uses
Companion Plants
Quick Stats
Design Styles
Include in Your Project
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Use this care guide to maintain your Century Plant. Questions about your landscape? Reach out anytime.
Data from 2024 AMWUA “Landscape Plants for the Arizona Desert” guide.
Century Plant — common questions
Answers for low-desert Phoenix conditions, drawn from this plant’s growing data.
How much water does Century Plant need in Phoenix?
Century Plant is a very low-water succulent once established. Water established plants only once or twice a month in the hottest months and rarely in winter. It stores water in its leaves and rots easily in soggy or poorly drained soil. Referenced in AMWUA guide under Weber's Agave as "also try A. americana Mediopicta".
How big does Century Plant get?
Expect roughly 3-6 ft tall and 6-10 ft wide at maturity, with a slow growth rate. Allow about 6-8 ft of spacing when planting. Shallow, non-invasive roots, but offset pups spread outward and form colonies if left unremoved.
Can you plant Century Plant near a pool?
Not ideally. Century Plant is not rated pool-friendly, so it is better placed away from the pool deck and skimmer. Litter is rated low.
Can Century Plant handle Arizona heat and winter frost?
Century Plant is hardy in USDA 8-11 and wants full sun. Fully hardy across Phoenix Zone 8b-10a, tolerating cold to about 15°F and taking full reflected summer heat without stress. Growth is slow and steady in the warm season. After many years the plant sends up a towering flower stalk, sets pups, then dies — so preserve the offsets to continue the planting.
Does Century Plant have thorns?
Yes — Century Plant has large thorns. Site it back from walkways, seating and pool decks where people brush past.
Is Century Plant safe around pets?
Century Plant is not listed as pet-friendly, so keep it out of areas where pets graze or chew, and check with your vet if you are unsure.
How much maintenance does Century Plant need?
Century Plant is low-maintenance. Leaf, flower and pod litter is rated low. Little pruning needed — simply cut off any browned or damaged lower leaves at the base. Remove offset pups around the crown to control spread and keep the rosette tidy.
What kind of soil does Century Plant need?
Lean, gravelly, or rocky soils; thrives in fast-draining desert ground and resents rich, moisture-retentive soil. It needs no supplemental feeding. Rarely needs fertilizer; if desired, apply a light dose of low-nitrogen cactus food once in spring. Over-fertilizing produces soft, floppy growth.
Is Century Plant native to Arizona?
Yes. Century Plant is native to Arizona and to the Arizona, Mexico, so it is adapted to local rainfall, soil and heat.