Agave deserti var. deserti

Desert agave

Family: Agavaceae · Type: shrub · Native

Desert agave is a California native shrub found in the southern desert regions in sandy to rocky slopes and washes in desert scrub at elevations of 300 to 1,500 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces pale flowers with a bell-shaped perianth tube 3 to 5 millimeters long. Growing in dense rosettes with thick, grayish leaves 25 to 40 centimeters long, it forms a striking architectural plant in arid landscapes. Its leaves are succulent, bluish-gray, and arranged in a dramatic circular pattern radiating from a central point. The plant produces flower filaments emerging from the top of the perianth tube, creating a distinctive desert botanical display.

Habitat: Sandy to rocky slopes, washes in desert scrub

Bloom period: May-Jul

Elevation: 300-1500 m

Bioregions: DSon

California counties: Riverside, San Diego, Imperial

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.