If you’re looking for an imposing specimen plant that is too big to be ignored, century plant fits the bill. Century plant is the most popular landscape agave, but it’s definitely not right for every situation. Here’s everything you need to know about growing this Chihuahuan Desert native in this complete care guide.
Century plant (Agave americana) is one of the largest agaves in the world. It’s also the agave most commonly grown in desert gardens. It has large, leathery, blue-green leaves that are lined with spines. Each leaf ends in a dagger-like tip.
This desert native is extremely low-maintenance and needs virtually no care. It produces lots of offsets for an endless supply of free plants.
When in bloom, flowers produce large amounts of nectar that attract hummingbirds, bats, and insect pollinators. Javelinas and small rodents sometimes snack on the leaves, but rarely do any real harm.
Why I Like This Plant
- Bold specimen that provides architectural interest
- Extremely low maintenance
- Endless supply of free “pups”
- Amazing flower stalk at the end of its life
Things to Watch Out For
Century plant is not as long-lived as its name implies. Plants typically live 10 to 25 years. Like all agaves, century plant blooms once and then dies.
This plant is a giant that you may regret planting, especially if you have a small yard. It’s not just the plant itself that is huge, the tree-like flower stalk can get into power lines or push against the eaves of your house.
It’s imperative that you keep its mature size in mind. If you can’t visualize how big it may get or what an ordeal it can be to remove one that’s outgrown its space or died, check out this 4 minute video of a 20 year old century plant being removed. 😮
Its dangerously sharp tips can pose a hazard to people and pets.
Agaves contain compounds that can cause a rash called agave dermatitis in some people.
Century plant, along with Weber’s agave (Agave weberii), are the two species most susceptible to agave weevil infestations.
Optimal Growing Conditions
If you’re thinking of adding a century plant 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
Century plant should be grown in USDA Hardiness Zones 8 – 12. It tolerates desert heat and survives temperatures into the mid-teens.
Sun Exposure
Century plant thrives in full sun and reflected heat, but tolerates light shade. In the hottest, sunniest locations, plants appreciate some afternoon shade
Size & Growth Rate
Century plant grows moderately fast and ultimately reaches a whopping size of 8 to 10 feet tall by 6 feet wide.
Sometime after 10 years, a plant will send up a huge stalk covered with yellow-green flowers that signals the end of its life. These fast-growing flower stalks can range from 15 to 30 feet tall!
Soil
Century plant will grow in any well-draining desert soil, but prefers alkaline soil that’s sandy or rocky.
Pests & Diseases
Agave weevils infest agave crops and desert landscape plants and are a worldwide problem. There is no cure, and infestations are always fatal. Unfortunately, century plant is one of the most susceptible agave species.
The best defense is to keep your plant healthy. Agave weevils are more likely to attack plants that are over or under-watered or otherwise stressed or damaged.
Learn more:
Agave Weevil: Little Bug, Big Problem
Other Location Considerations
Century plant is huge and has dangerously sharp tips, so don’t plant it near foot traffic.
If the dagger-like ends become a hazard, you can clip the tips. Creative solutions I’ve seen include putting wine corks, small balls, or ornaments on the tips to keep people or pets from getting stabbed.
Century Plant:
The Essentials
| Common Name | Century plant |
| Scientific Name | Agave americana |
| Origin | Chihuahuan Desert, southwest US |
| USDA Zones | Zones 8 – 12 |
| Cold Hardiness | To 15℉ |
| Mature Size | 6’ high x 8-10’ wide |
| Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Sun Tolerance | Full, part, reflected sun |
| Water Needs | Low |
| Pests & Diseases | Agave weevils, root rot |
| Cautions | Agave dermatitis, spines |
| Wildlife | Attracts birds, bats, insect pollinators |
How to Plant
To plant a century plant, dig a hole the same depth as the root system and twice as wide.
Carefully remove the plant from the container, place it in the hole, and fill with the same native soil you just removed. Press the soil to remove any air pockets.
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.
If you are planting an offset, let the end dry in the shade for a few days, and then either plant it directly in the ground or temporarily place it in a well-draining pot with cactus soil.
When to Plant
The best time to plant agaves is in spring between April and May when warm temperatures encourage root development.
How to Care for Century Plant
Whether you’ve recently planted a century plant or have an existing one 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 agaves 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 |
Once your plant is established, it should not need supplemental water unless you’re experiencing severe drought. Too much water can cause root rot.
Should You Fertilize?
Century plant does not need fertilizing. It gets all the nutrients it needs from the surrounding desert soil.
How to Prune
Century plant should not be pruned except to remove dead lower leaves.
Eventually, you’ll need to remove the flower stalk, but wait until it’s spent. While in bloom, the flowers are an important source of food for pollinators.
Century Plant Cultivars
Century plant is genetically variable and consequently there are several varieties, subspecies, and cultivars of this plant available.
Two you may come across when shopping include:
- variegated century plant (Agave americana var. marginata) – yellow stripes along its margins
- yellow-striped century plant (Agave americana var. medio-picta) – prominent yellow center stripe, somewhat smaller
For Plant Lovers
Century plant also goes by the common names American century plant, maguey, and American aloe. This plant could use rebranding since it doesn’t live to 100, and it’s not an aloe.
Unfortunately, a lot of people use “century plant” as a generic term for all agaves. This contributes to the erroneous belief that all agaves are exceptionally long-lived. They aren’t.
There’s evidence that century plant has been cultivated for at least 8,000 years, which makes its exact native range difficult to ascertain. It’s widely accepted that its native range includes the Chihuahuan Desert in Mexico and possibly parts of Arizona and Texas. It has naturalized on all inhabited continents.
Century plant was an important food source to the Native Americans. Most plant parts — leaves, tubers, flower stalks, hearts, and fruit — were consumed.
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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.
Photo Credits
Arizona State University’s Virtual Library of Phoenix Landscape Plants
David Stang, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons