If you love tequila, blue agave is the plant for you! Also known as “tequila agave,” this striking succulent is native to Mexico, famous as the primary source of tequila and mezcal. The indigenous peoples of Mexico have used blue agave for centuries, making sweet agave syrup, fibers for ropes and mats, and medicines. Agave sap, “aguamiel,” was traditionally fermented to make “pulque,” an alcoholic drink with cultural significance. The plant's leaves and heart—”piña”—add a sweet, smoky flavor in cooking. The plant’s iconic thick, blue-gray leaves grow in a rosette with each leaf ending in a sharp point. Mature plants produce a tall stalk with clusters of yellow flowers that can reach up to twenty feet high. With its grand scale and shapely form, this hardy desert jewel is beloved as an ornamental plant in xeriscapes and water wise gardens.
Growth Form: Grows 6-8 ft tall, spreads 8-12 ft wide
Light: Full sun to part shade
Water: Drought tolerant once established
Soil: Well-drained, sandy, cactus soil
Hardiness: USDA zones 9-11
Type: Perennial succulent