Agave ‘Blue Glow’ is an exceptionally attractive agave that stays compact and won’t outgrow its space. It’s aptly named, since in the right light it glows. Here’s everything you need to know about planting and caring for this hybrid of two Mexican desert natives.
‘Blue Glow’ agave (Agave x ‘Blue Glow’) is a stunning, medium size agave that lives up to its name. The margins of its blue-green leaves are lined with red and gold stripes that positively glow when backlit.
‘Blue Glow’ isn’t just beautiful, it’s also an extremely low-maintenance plant. It needs minimal water, grows slowly, doesn’t need pruning, and doesn’t produce offsets or litter.
Why I Like This Plant
- It looks stunning all year long
- Takes extreme heat and cold in its stride
- Is extremely low-maintenance
Things to Watch Out For
Unlike many agaves which tolerate full sun all day long, it will be happier with some protection from afternoon sun.
Handle your ‘Blue Glow’ with care. It’s not a particularly spiky agave, but each leaf does have a sharp tip that can poke your skin. Agaves contain compounds that can cause a rash called agave dermatitis in some people.
Optimal Growing Conditions
If you’re thinking of adding a ‘Blue Glow’ to your garden, you need to find a suitable place that will keep your plant healthy and looking good… while minimizing maintenance for you.
Here are the key factors to keep in mind.
Temperature
‘Blue Glow’ agave should be grown in USDA Hardiness Zones 8 – 11. It is tolerant of desert extremes, withstanding temperatures up to 115℉ and down to 15℉.
Sun Exposure
You can plant ‘Blue Glow’ in full sun, but it appreciates some afternoon shade. When facing full sun all day, leaves tend to turn yellow.
Size and Growth Rate
‘Blue Glow’ agave ultimately will reach a size of 2 feet tall by 3 feet wide. It’s a slow-grower and rarely sends offshoots, or pups, which makes it a reliable addition to your garden that doesn’t need pruning or dividing.
Soil
‘Blue Glow’ agave actually prefers poor, rocky native desert soil. Planting in poor soil will help avoid root rot.
If you grow one in a pot, be sure it has good drainage and use specifically formulated cactus soil.
Other Location Considerations
‘Blue Glow’ is an ideal container plant. Since it’s slow-growing and doesn’t set out pups, it can stay in the same pot for years. Another benefit of planting in one in a container is to protect it from the dreaded agave snout weevil.
Don’t buy the biggest plant you can find since they only live for 10 to 15 years. Once a plant has reached the end of its life expectancy, it will send up one 10 foot flower stalk and then die.
‘Blue Glow’ Agave:
The Essentials
| Common Name | ‘Blue Glow’ agave |
| Scientific Name | Agave x ‘Blue Glow’ |
| Origin | Mexico (hybrid) |
| USDA Zones | Zones 8 – 11 |
| Cold Hardiness | To 15℉ |
| Mature Size | 2′ high x 3’ wide |
| Growth Rate | Slow |
| Sun Tolerance | Full, part sun |
| Water Needs | Low |
| Pests & Diseases | Root rot if overwatered |
| Toxicity | Contact dermatitis |
| Wildlife | Deer resistant |
How to Plant
Dig a hole as deep as and twice as wide as the nursery container. Carefully remove the plant from the container, put it in the hole and fill with the same native soil you just removed. Press the soil to remove any air pockets.
Never plant deeper than the depth of the root ball which can cause rot. Actually, it’s best to plant an inch or two above soil level to give the plant room to settle and leave room for mulch.
It’s generally recommended that you not add amendments to the soil. However, good drainage is critical. So if your soil drains slowly, amend with coarse sand or small gravel until you have a loose, well-drained mix.
When to Plant
The best time to plant agaves is in April or May. The warmer temperatures of spring encourage root development.
How to Care for ‘Blue Glow’ Agave
Whether you’ve recently planted a ‘Blue Glow’ or have an existing plant in your yard, here’s how to take care of it to keep it healthy and looking its best.
How to Water
You’re probably used to giving a plant a good soaking immediately after transplanting, but that isn’t the best practice with agaves. Counterintuitively, it’s best to not water for one to two weeks after planting. Then use the following schedule as a guide.
| Spring & Fall | Every 3-5 weeks |
| Summer | Every 2-4 weeks |
| Winter | Only if no winter rains |
If you do need to water during the winter, wait until there are no freezing temperatures in the forecast.
If you’re growing your agave in a container, use this watering schedule as a guide.
| Spring & Fall | Every 7-10 days |
| Summer | Every 5-7 days |
| Winter | Every 10-14 days |
Frequent watering will make your agave grow larger, faster. This might sound like a good thing, but it causes your plant to reach the end of its life span sooner.
Should You Fertilize?
There is no need to fertilize ‘Blue Glow’ agave, they get all the nutrients they need from the desert soil.
But if you grow one in a pot, fertilize lightly a few times a year when it’s actively growing.
How to Prune
Removing dead or damaged lower leaves is the only pruning you need to do.
Pests
Agave snout weevil is an insect that can attack and kill any agave, but fortunately, smaller agaves like ‘Blue Glow’ are less susceptible.
Don’t Confuse ‘Blue Glow’ With…
‘Blue Glow’ is sometimes confused with “Blue Flame” agave. Like ‘Blue Glow’, it’s a hybrid of Agave attenuata. However, compared to ‘Blue Glow’, it’s somewhat larger and less cold-hardy, and does not have red and gold margins.
Plant Lover Facts
Agave ‘Blue Glow’ is a hybrid cross between Agave ocahui and Agave attenuata, both desert natives found in Mexico. I think it has the best attributes of both of these plants.
Agave attenuata, or fox tail agave, is an attractive landscape plant as well, but is much larger (5’ x 5’) and not cold-hardy. You can expect this plant to show obvious damage once the temperature drops below 28℉. It is native to the deserts of southwestern Mexico.
Agave ocahui tolerates full sun and reflected heat and has red-brown margins. “Ocahui” is a Native American word for fiber. It’s native to parts of the Sonoran Desert.
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Author Bio
Deane Alban is the creator of Southwest Gardener. She is a science writer with a bachelor’s degree in botany from the University of South Florida. Gardening is her lifelong passion. She’s been gardening in Tucson for over 15 years.
