Agave attenuataLion's Tail Agave

The Agave attenuata, commonly known as Lion's Tail Agave or Foxtail Agave, is a striking architectural succulent prized for its rosette of thick, fleshy, pale grey-green leaves. Unlike most agaves it is soft-leaved and spineless: the leaf margins carry no teeth and there is no sharp terminal spine, which makes it one of the few agaves safe to plant beside paths, pool surrounds and entries. Forming a rosette around 0.8 to 1.5 metres tall and 1 to 2 metres wide, it makes a bold statement in landscapes, xeriscapes, or as a feature plant in large containers.

Mature plants send up a long, distinctly arching flower spike, which is where both common names come from. The flowering rosette dies after blooming, but freely produced basal offsets carry the clump on.

Specifications

• Height0.8 to 1.5 metres; older plants develop a short trunk
• Width1 to 2 metres
• Native toCentral Mexico, in Jalisco, Michoacán and México State
• FoliageThick, soft, fleshy pale grey-green to glaucous blue-green leaves with smooth margins and no terminal spine; evergreen
• Growth rateModerate

Conditions

• SoilRequires free-draining soils; tolerates sandy, rocky and poor soils
• LightFull sun to partial shade; the soft leaves benefit from afternoon shade in hot inland climates
• WaterLow; drought-tolerant once established and intolerant of wet feet
• ClimateThrives in subtropical, coastal and Mediterranean climates

Additional Features

• FlowersA single unbranched, arching spike 2.5 to 3.5 metres long carrying dense greenish-yellow blooms, produced after roughly ten years
• FormSymmetrical rosette of soft, unarmed leaves; suckers freely to form colonies
• SafetyNo marginal teeth and no terminal spine. The sap can irritate sensitive skin, so wear gloves when dividing
• UsesIdeal as a feature plant, in mass planting, poolside beds, xeriscaping, or in large containers
• SpacingPlant 1 to 1.5 metres apart for grouped displays
• Low MaintenanceRequires little care; avoid overwatering
• Pest ResistanceGenerally pest-free; highly resilient
• Drought TolerancePerforms well in water-wise and low-rainfall gardens
• Frost ToleranceLimited; damage occurs below about minus 2 degrees Celsius, so protect in colder regions
• Life CycleThe individual rosette is monocarpic and dies after flowering, while basal pups continue the clump
• Seasonal AppealYear-round architectural form with an occasional dramatic flowering event

The Lion's Tail Agave is a dramatic and hardy addition to any garden, and its spineless leaves make it the safest agave for planting where people pass close by.