Agave utahensis var. nevadensis
Clark mountain agave, Clark Mountain Agave, Clark Mountain agave, Clark Mountain agave
(c) J Brew, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by J Brew · licence
Family: Agavaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.2
Agave utahensis var. nevadensis (Clark mountain agave) is a native California shrub in the Agavaceae family, recognized by smaller rosettes with whitish waxy coating.
Clark mountain agave is a rare (CNPS 4.2) California native shrub found in northern and eastern Mojave Desert Mountains, including Ivanpah, Clark, and Kingston ranges in desert scrub and conifer woodland on calcareous outcrops at elevations of 1,200 to 1,500 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces pale green to white flowers on tall reproductive stalks. Growing in dense rosettes 15 to 25 centimeters tall with thick, glaucous-green leaves, it forms compact clusters with distinctive architectural structure. Its leaves have sharp marginal teeth 4 to 6 millimeters long and a prominent brown to whitish tip-spine 4 to 8.5 centimeters in length, creating a dramatic sculptural silhouette in arid landscapes.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated; smaller rosettes with whitish waxy coating
Habitat and range
Habitat: Desert scrub [to conifer woodland] on calcareous outcrops
Elevation: 1200-1500 m
Outside California: Nevada
Bloom period
Agave utahensis var. nevadensis blooms May-Jul.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.2
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 utahensis var. nevadensis native to California?
Yes. Agave utahensis var. nevadensis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Agave utahensis var. nevadensis bloom?
Agave utahensis var. nevadensis blooms May-Jul.
What plant family does Agave utahensis var. nevadensis belong to?
Agave utahensis var. nevadensis is in the Agavaceae family, genus Agave.
Is Agave utahensis var. nevadensis rare or endangered?
Agave utahensis var. nevadensis carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.2, state rank S3.
What habitat does Agave utahensis var. nevadensis grow in?
Agave utahensis var. nevadensis grows in Desert scrub [to conifer woodland] on calcareous outcrops.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Agave deserti — Desert agave
- Agave deserti var. deserti — Desert agave
- Agave deserti var. simplex — Simple desert agave
- Agave shawii var. shawii — Shaw agave
- Agave simplex — lonesome agave
- Agave sp. — Century plant
- Camassia leichtlinii subsp. suksdorfii
- Camassia quamash subsp. breviflora
- Camassia sp. — Camas
- Chlorogalum angustifolium — Narrow-leaved soap plant
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.