Agave utahensis

Common Names

Utah Agave, Century Plant, Kaibab Agave, Utah Century Plant, Nevada Agave, Utah Century-Plant, Yant

Summary

Utah agave is an evergreen, stemless, rosette-forming succulent with blue-green leaves edged with spines; rosettes reach 15–60 cm in height and 20–100 cm in width, with leaves 15–50 cm long and 2–3 cm wide. A tall yellow inflorescence on a stalk rises 1.5–5 m, and the plant is monocarpic, dying after bloom while offsets often persist to form clumps. Native to the southwestern United States (Arizona, Utah, Nevada, California), it tolerates full sun, drought, and well-drained soil; some subspecies tolerate cold, making it hardy to USDA zones 6–10.

For cultivation, provide full sun and well-drained soil, and water sparingly once established; avoid heavy winter moisture. Propagation is by offsets or seeds, and the plant can form clonal colonies via its offsets. Suitable landscape uses include rock gardens, xeriscapes, Mediterranean or succulent garden settings; plant away from paths due to sharp spines to reduce injury.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

6-24 inches

Spread

1-3.5 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 6-10

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun; tolerates partial sun and partial shade.

Soil Type

Well-drained sandy soil

Soil Drainage

Excellent, well-drained soil; sandy or gritty, mineral-based mix with 50–100% inorganic material and low organic content.

Soil pH

7.0-8.0, tolerates acidic to mildly alkaline soils

Bloom Color

Yellow

Bloom Time

Spring to Summer

Foliage Color

Blue-green

Fall Foliage Color

Green to bluish-green

Leaf Lifecycle

Evergreen broadleaf

Growth Rate

Slow growth

Seasons of Interest

Spring and Summer

Propagation Methods

Seeds; Offsets (pups); Plantlets from the flower spike; Bulbils; Leaf cuttings; Division; Suckers

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees, hummingbirds, butterflies, other pollinators, birds