Cow's Horn Agave
Agave bovicornuta
A glossy green agave with striking decorative marginal teeth that catch the light like stained glass.
Frost sensitive, hardy to about 25°F, USDA 9-11; a low- to mid-desert agave needing frost protection.
AMWUA Notes
Very drought tolerant rosette succulent needing little supplemental water.
Care Guide
Water deeply every 2-3 weeks in summer while establishing, then only monthly; agaves rot in soggy soil.
Remove dead lower leaves at the base; this agave is monocarpic, so remove the whole plant after it blooms and dies, keeping any offsets.
Not necessary; agaves thrive in lean soil.
Agave snout weevil is the key threat—watch for a collapsing center and apply a preventive soil-insecticide drench in spring.
Frost-tender leaf tips may scorch below 25°F; protect in cold snaps and shield newly moved plants from sudden western sun.
Soil, Feeding & Propagation
Fast-draining decomposed granite or gritty mineral soil; low organic matter
Needs sharp, fast-draining soil.
None — thrives in lean desert soil without fertilizer.
Offsets (pups) taken after the parent blooms
4 ft
Shallow, non-invasive roots; keep the toothed margins and sharp terminal spine away from walkways
Placement Tips
- •Feature as a rosette specimen where the toothed margins will not reach walkways.
- •Keep the sharp terminal spine away from kids and pets.
- •Plant in fast-draining granite.
- •Allow for the 4 ft spread.
Features
Best Uses
Companion Plants
Quick Stats
Design Styles
Include in Your Project
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Use this care guide to maintain your Cow's Horn Agave. Questions about your landscape? Reach out anytime.
Data from 2024 AMWUA “Landscape Plants for the Arizona Desert” guide.