Agave attenuata

Common Names

Foxtail Agave, Swan's Neck, Lion's Tail, Dragon Tree Agave, Soft Leaved Agave, Century Plant, Spineless Century Plant

Summary

Foxtail Agave is an evergreen, spineless rosette-forming succulent native to central Mexico. It features arching, soft blue-green leaves 50–70 cm long and 12–16 cm wide that form a central crown on a sturdy stem. Mature rosettes produce a long arching flower stalk 1.5–3 m tall bearing greenish-yellow to pale flowers, and after flowering the rosette dies while offsets form, often creating colonies.

Cultivation and care: grow in full sun to partial shade in well-drained sandy or loamy soil. It is drought-tolerant but frost-sensitive, hardy in USDA zones 9b–11b. Water deeply when the soil dries in warm months and sparingly in winter. Propagate by offsets or seeds. Fertilize minimally with a diluted balanced fertilizer once per growing season. Pests include scale insects, and diseases such as root/crown rot. Uses include landscape focal point, borders, rock gardens, patios, and containers, with coastal tolerance and suitability for drought-tolerant plantings.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

2-3 feet

Spread

3-4 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 9-12

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun; tolerates partial shade.

Soil Type

Well-draining sandy or loamy soil

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soil.

Soil pH

6.0-7.5, slightly acidic to neutral

Bloom Color

Yellow-green to white

Bloom Time

Spring to Summer

Foliage Color

Blue-green to silvery-green foliage.

Fall Foliage Color

No fall color change

Leaf Lifecycle

Evergreen broadleaf

Growth Rate

Slow-growing

Seasons of Interest

Spring and Summer

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Division, Cuttings, Offshoots (offsets/pups), Bulbils, Stolons

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts birds