General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Cactus/Succulent
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Full Sun
Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 10a -1.1 °C (30 °F) to +1.7 °C (35 °F)
Plant Height: 18 inches
Plant Spread: 1-2 feet
Leaves: Evergreen
Other: Pale midstripe. Very brittle.
Fruit: Dehiscent
Flowers: Showy
Flower Color: Yellow
Flower Time: Summer
Inflorescence Height: 3-6 feet
Suitable Locations: Xeriscapic
Uses: Will Naturalize
Resistances: Deer Resistant
Drought tolerant
Toxicity: Other: The juice from many species of agave can cause acute contact dermatitis that produces reddening and blistering lasting approximately one to two weeks. Itching may recur up to a year later without a visible rash. Dried parts of the plants can be handled sa
Propagation: Seeds: Can handle transplanting
Other info: Sow in shallow pots with a well draining, sterile mix; 50/50 organic/inorganic of coarse perlite, pumice; sphagnum peat or good compost. Avoid manures. Irrigate from below by submerging in water to 1/2 height of pot. Provide bright, indirect light and a
Propagation: Other methods: Cuttings: Stem
Offsets
Other: Bulbils
Containers: Suitable in 3 gallon or larger
Needs excellent drainage in pots
Miscellaneous: With thorns/spines/prickles/teeth
Monocarpic
Conservation status: Critically Endangered (CR)

Conservation status:
Conservation status: Critically Endangered
Image
Common names
  • Nizanda Agave
  • Maguey de Nizanda
  • Agave
  • Century Plant
  • Maguey

Photo Gallery
Location: Baja California
Date: 2023-10-01
Anthesis on first 2 flowers, early fall
Location: Baja California
Date: 2023-01-18
Pale midstripe and small, regular, deltoid teeth
Location: Baja California
Date: 2023-01-19
10 inch pot
Location: Baja California
Date: 2023-01-19
Transitioning to bracts, preparing to flower
Location: Baja California
Date: 2023-05-26
Stress colors while rooting
Location: Baja California
Date: 2023-05-08
Location: Southwest Florida
Date: August 2012
Location: Baja California
Date: 2021-06-19
Location: Botanical Garden Bochum
Date: 2017-05-15
Location: Baja California
Date: 2021-10-25
Leaves are thick, fleshy and brittle (lacking fiber)
Location: Southwest Florida
Date: July 2015
Location: Southwest Florida
Date: July 2012
Plant with beginning flowerspike.
Location: Southwest Florida
Date: August 2012
This is at the top of a stalk appr. 3 ft long
Location: Southwest Florida
Date: September 2012
Comments:
  • Posted by Baja_Costero (Baja California - Zone 11b) on Dec 4, 2020 10:15 PM concerning plant:
    Unusual small, stemless, clumping agave from the Isthmus of Tehuantepec in far southern Mexico. Short-lived for an agave (maybe 3 years from offset to bloom). Rosettes reach about 14" in strong light. Leaves are narrow, thick, brittle and green to red, brown or purple, with a pale midstripe and very small, inoffensive teeth. There are relatively few leaves in a mature rosette and they are spreading to decurved. The inflorescence is 3-6 feet tall and sparsely flowered in the upper 1/4, making it roughly capitate.

    This plant grows in dry forests in Oaxaca and enjoys some protection from the sun in cultivation (but like all agaves, it requires strong light). Direct sun tends to bring out striking stress colors. Uncommon in cultivation though rather prolific. Somewhat fragile, leaves easily broken.
  • Posted by Dutchlady1 on Jul 15, 2012 6:27 PM concerning plant:
    This is an unusual Agave in that the leaves are almost more like Aloe leaves, more fleshy and without spikes, than those of most other Agaves.
    I am told it is tricky to grow but it seems very happy in my yard.

« Add a new plant to the database

» Search the Agaves Database: by characteristics or by cultivar name

« See the general plant entry for Agaves (Agave)

« The Agaves Database Front Page

« The Plants Database Front Page