No images found for this plant ID: 1004.
Ensure images are uploaded to the Media Library and tagged with "1004" in the "plant_image_tag" taxonomy.
desert agave
Scientific Name: Agave deserti ssp. simplex
Family: Agavaceae
Category: Monocot
Growth: Subshrub, Shrub, Forb/herb
Duration: Perennial
Other Names: AZ (desert agave)
Agave deserti (Desert Agave)
Agave deserti, commonly known as Desert Agave, Mescal, Century Plant, or Maguey, is a striking succulent native to the desert regions of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico.
Considerations for Pets
- The leaves of Agave deserti have stiff spines along their edges.
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Scientific Name: Agave deserti Engelm.
- Order: Liliales
- Family: Agavaceae
- Genus: Agave
- Species: Agave deserti
- Synonyms: Agave deserti Engelm. subsp. deserti
- Common Names: Desert Agave, Mescal, Century Plant, Maguey. Locally in Spanish, it may be known as mezcal, maguey, or amole.
Distribution and Habitat
- Agave deserti is native to southern California, Arizona, and Baja California.
- It thrives in desert grasslands and wooded foothills of mountain ranges in the Southwest.
Morphology and Growth
- Agave deserti is a succulent that forms rosettes up to 2 feet wide.
- The gray leaves are typically 8-16 inches long and 2-3 inches wide, with a deep central gutter.
- The plant sends up a solitary stalk with sticky yellow flowers, attracting bees.
Traditional Uses
- The Desert Agave was historically used for food and clothing by native peoples of Southern California.