Agave deserti
Desert agave
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Agavaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Agave deserti (Desert agave) is a native California shrub in the Agavaceae family, recognized by 2 sympatric varieties; parent species with clear morphological features.
Desert agave is a California native shrub found in desert regions of southwestern California, growing in rocky or sandy desert habitats at elevations near sea level to 900 meters. Flowering from late spring to early summer, this plant produces tall panicle-like flower stalks reaching 2 to 6 meters high with yellow-green flowers. Growing in dense rosettes 3 to 7 decimeters wide, it develops thick, lance-linear leaves with sharp marginal teeth and prominent terminal spines up to 4 centimeters long. Its leaves are light green to bluish-gray, with distinctive teeth spaced about 1.5 to 3 centimeters apart and ending in a sharp spine. The fruit is an elongated capsule 3 to 6 centimeters long, containing small black seeds approximately 5 to 6 millimeters in size.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 2 sympatric varieties; parent species with clear morphological features
Habitat and range
California counties: San Bernardino, San Diego, Riverside, Imperial, Alameda
How to tell it apart
vs Aloe: Agave leaves spread from central rosette without a trunk; Aloe typically has a visible stem with leaves spiraling along it.; vs Yucca: Agave has yellow-green flowers with inferior ovary; Yucca has white flowers with superior ovary.; vs Hesperoyucca: Agave has yellow-green flowers with inferior ovary; Hesperoyucca has white flowers with superior ovary.; vs Phormium: Agave has thick succulent leaves with marginal spines; Phormium has thin fibrous strap-like leaves without spines.; vs Dudleya: Agave forms large rosettes with rigid sword-like leaves; Dudleya has smaller rosettes with soft paddle-shaped leaves.
Frequently asked questions
Is Agave deserti native to California?
Yes. Agave deserti is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Agave deserti grow?
Agave deserti occurs in San Bernardino, San Diego, Riverside, Imperial, Alameda.
What plant family does Agave deserti belong to?
Agave deserti is in the Agavaceae family, genus Agave.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.