Twin-flowered agave is a small, elegant agave that, compared to most agaves, is relatively “soft”. It’s also virtually maintenance-free. Here’s everything you need to know about planting and caring for this Mexican desert native.
Twin-flowered agave (Agave geminiflora) is a medium size agave made up of hundreds of smooth, narrow leaves that form a beautiful, symmetric, almost fountain-like rosette. Some, but not all, plants have white curling fibers growing along the leaf edges.
It’s a little more garden friendly than most agaves. It has no teeth or spikes other than a small, pointed tip.
When stressed by either drought or temperature extremes, the leaves take on an attractive bronze hue.
Twin-flowered agave is an extremely low-maintenance plant. This Mexican native grows in full or part sun. It needs minimal irrigation and is cold hardy down to the mid-twenties.
It’s as “plant and forget” as a plant can be. It grows slowly, doesn’t need pruning, is litter-free, and doesn’t produce offsets you may not want in your yard.
Like all agaves, it only flowers once and then dies. It gets its name “twin flowered” from the pairs of bright yellow flowers that appear along its huge flower spike.
Why I Like This Plant
- Looks beautiful all year long
- Thrives in desert extremes
- Extremely low-maintenance
- Deer and rabbit resistant
Things to Watch Out For
Handle your twin-flowered agave 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 twin-flowered agave 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
Twin-flowered agave should be grown in USDA Hardiness Zones 8 – 11. It is cold-hardy down to 25℉.
Sun Exposure
Twin-flowered agave is happiest in part sun. It can tolerate full sun, but it prefers some afternoon shade.
The more sun it gets, the stiffer its leaves will be. When grown in part shade, the leaves relax and become more flexible.
Size and Growth Rate
Twin-flowered agave ultimately reaches a size of 2 feet tall by 3 feet wide. It’s a slow-grower and doesn’t form offshoots, which makes it a reliable addition to your garden that doesn’t need pruning or dividing.
It’s relatively short-lived and after about 10 years, will send up an impressive 12-foot flower stalk that signals the end of its life.
Soil
Twin-flowered agave will grow in any type of desert soil, provided it’s well-drained.
If you grow one in a container, be sure it has good drainage and use specifically formulated cactus soil.
Other Location Considerations
Don’t hide this beauty in the back of your yard. Put it where it can be admired close up.
Its draping symmetric form looks fantastic in a container.
Twin-Flowered Agave:
The Essentials
| Common Name | Twin-flowered agave |
| Scientific Name | Agave geminiflora |
| Origin | Mexico |
| USDA Zones | Zones 8 – 11 |
| Cold Hardiness | To 25℉ |
| Mature Size | 3′ high x 2’ wide |
| Growth Rate | Slow |
| Sun Tolerance | Full, part sun |
| Water Needs | Low |
| Pests & Diseases | Root rot if overwatered |
| Warnings | Contact dermatitis |
| Wildlife | Deer, rabbit resistant |
How to Plant
Dig a hole as deep as and twice as wide as the plant 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 your agave is in April or May. Warm soil temperatures encourage root development.
How to Care for Twin-Flowered Agave
Whether you’ve recently planted an agave 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 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 |
In the winter, avoid watering if freezing temperatures are 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 an 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’s no need to fertilize twin-flowered agave, plants get all they need from the surrounding desert soil. But if you keep it in a pot, fertilize lightly a few times a year when it’s actively growing.
Should You Prune?
This plant rarely needs pruning except to remove dead lower leaves. Never shear, this plant — you’ll ruin its beautiful shape and hasten its demise.
Pests
The agave snout weevil is an insect that can attack any agave, but fortunately, twin-flowered agave is less susceptible than some agave species.
Twin-flowered agave may require some protection from pack rats, which like to chew on the foliage and can cause substantial damage.
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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 15 years.
Photo Credits
Zeynel Cebeci, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons