Family
Agavaceae
Botanical Name
Agave utahensis ssp. kaibabensis
Plant Common Name
Kaibab Agave, Utah Century Plant
General Description
This beautiful subspecies of Agave utahensis naturally grows on the rocky limestone slopes of the Kaibab Plateau of northern Arizona. It forms a pleasing rosette of narrow darker green lanceolate leaves making it well-suited for rock garden culture.
The unusually hardy Agave utahensis is a largely high desert perennial with dramatic, structurally interesting foliage. It is naturally found in scrubby rocky spots of the Mojave and Upper Sonoran deserts, from California to Utah. Its sharp spiny rosettes are formidable with grayish brown terminal spines at the tips of the dagger-like leaves. It can withstand periods of freezing as long as growing conditions remain dry.
The gray-green fleshy leaves of this century plant are straight with white barbed margins ending in sharp brownish tips. The leaves of mature rosettes reach a substantial knee-high height. Flowering only occurs when plants are mature, after many years. The ivory flowers are bell-shaped and appear in branched clusters atop very tall stems in summer. They are fragrant and attract lots of desert pollinators. The fruits are capsules that age to dark brown and split at maturity to reveal, flat, black, shiny seeds. Once a rosette flowers it dies, though many Agave leave behind suckering colonies of living rosettes, or “pups”, at the base of the parent plant. Lots of species also produce small plantlets on the flower stalk, called bulbils, which can fall to the ground, root and become new plants.
Plant in hot full sun and nutrient-poor soil with sharp drainage. It will not tolerate sustained moisture at the root zone, so be cautious not to overwater container-grown specimens. This perennial makes a great accent plant and looks nice planted among other succulents. It is lovely in containers and makes a fine houseplant for sunny windows or conservatories. Wickedly sharp Agave like this should not be planted where children play because it can be quite dangerous.
Characteristics
-
AHS Heat Zone
10 - 1
-
USDA Hardiness Zone
5 - 10
-
Sunset Zone
2b, 3a, 3b, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
-
Plant Type
Cactus or Succulent
-
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
-
Height
2'-3' / 0.6m - 0.9m
-
Width
3'-5' / 0.9m - 1.5m
-
Bloom Time
Summer
-
Native To
Western United States, Southwestern United States, Latin America and the Caribbean, Caribbean, Central America, South America
Growing Conditions
-
Soil pH
Neutral, Alkaline
-
Soil Drainage
Well Drained
-
Soil type
Sand
-
Tolerances
Drought
-
Growth Rate
Slow
-
Water Requirements
Xeric/Desert, Drought Tolerant
-
Habit
Rosette/Stemless
-
Seasonal Interest
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Ornamental Features
-
Flower Interest
Showy
-
Flower Color
Light Yellow, Ivory
-
Fruit Color
Brown
-
Foliage Color (Spring)
Gray Green, Dark Green
-
Foliage Color (Summer)
Gray Green, Dark Green
-
Foliage Color (Fall)
Gray Green, Dark Green
-
Foliage Color (Winter)
Gray Green, Dark Green
-
Fragrant Flowers
Yes
-
Fragrant Fruit
No
-
Fragrant Foliage
No
-
Bark or Stem Fragrant
No
-
Flower Petal Number
Single
-
Repeat Bloomer
No
-
Showy Fruit
Yes
-
Edible Fruit
No
-
Showy Foliage
Yes
-
Foliage Texture
Coarse
-
Foliage Sheen
Matte
-
Evergreen
Yes
-
Showy Bark
No
Special Characteristics
-
Usage
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Houseplant, Rock Garden / Wall
-
Sharp or Has Thorns
Yes
-
Invasive
No
-
Attracts
Birds
-
Self-Sowing
No
