How to Plant, Grow, and Care for Agave Ovatifolia

Agave ovatifolia, also known as whale’s tongue agave, is an evergreen perennial succulent that is known for its super-thick rosette of powder blue and gray leaves – a unique color combo! The plant belongs to the family of Asparagaceae and is a beautiful succulent for adding texture to coastal, city, and xeriscape gardens.

Native to Northeastern Mexico, Agave ovatifolia was introduced into cultivation by the esteemed nurseryman, Lynn Lowrey, from Texas in the mid-1980s. The plant is hardy and surprisingly withstands extreme winter. Its blue leaves will definitely add a wonderful tone to your garden.

Head on out to the nursery, grab an Agave ovatifolia, and let’s learn to care for this beautiful blue plant.

Agave Ovatifolia Plant Overview

Plant Type Succulent Family Asparagaceae Genus Agave Species Agave ovatifolia	Native Area Mexico Exposure Full sun Height 3-4’ Watering Requirements Low	Pests & Diseases Root rot, anthracnose, snout weevil Maintenance Low Soil Type Well-draining Hardiness Zone 7-11

What is Agave Ovatifolia?

A solitary succulent, Agave ovatifolia can grow up to three to four feet tall and six feet wide. It has a rounded rosette with distinctively cupped leaves that are rich in texture, giving it the common name whale’s tongue agave.

Native Area

The leaves have small teeth along the margins and a dark gray terminal spine that is an inch long. It is native to Mexico, specifically to the northeastern region of Mexico. Whale tongue agave belongs to the genus of monocots that is native to the arid, hot regions of the Americas.

Characteristics

Agave ovatifolia whale’s tongue agave plants take about ten years to mature and flower with a greenish-white flower color only once. They bear dense clusters of greenish-yellow flowers with magnificent flowering spikes that reach up to 12-15′ tall. The rosette dies after flowering. However, like other agave species, the whale’s tongue agave can reproduce via bulbils and seeds.

There are many perennials of the same species that are closely related to the image of Agave ovatifolia. These all have small teeth along their leaf margins. The species name comes from word ovatus for egg and agauos, which means ‘illustrious’.

Other Varieties

Agave americana, also known as the century plant, is a much larger rhizomatous type that is tolerant to high temperatures and drought. It spreads by seeds and rhizomes, so it can invade unwanted sites if not kept under control.

The second close cousin is the Agave attenuata or foxtail agave. Unlike Agave ovatifolia, this type doesn’t have any spike-covered dangers. It can grow four to five feet tall with harmless, beautiful gray rosettes. These are from central Mexico rather than northeastern Mexico.

The third closely related family member is the Agave tequilana, or blue agave, which is used in the production of tequila. This type of succulent grows flowering stems as tall as 20′. The greenish-white flower color indicates the plant is nearing the end of its life, as it is a solitary, non-offsetting succulent.

Planting

To plant Agave ovatifolia, select a location with full sun or partial shade and well-draining soil, as this succulent does not tolerate soggy conditions. Prepare the soil by mixing sand or gravel to enhance drainage if necessary. Use gloves when handling, as the plant has sharp spines.

Dig a hole twice as wide and slightly deeper than the agave’s root ball. Place the plant in the hole, ensuring the crown sits slightly above ground level to prevent water from pooling around it. Backfill the hole with the amended soil, gently firming it around the roots. Water deeply after planting, then allow the soil to dry out completely between waterings.

How to Grow

Agave ovatifolia is a drought-tolerant plant. It’s also a winter hardy and low-maintenance succulent. Although the plants love full sun, they can grow well in partially shady areas. Ideal as accent plants by a sunny window, Agave ovatifolia works well with well-drained soils and low moisture.

Light

Since they are drought-tolerant, the plants grow well in full sun to light shade in USDA Hardiness Zones 7-11. They are slow-growing and thrive on a bit of neglect, which makes them perfect for succulent gardens. The plants can tolerate more shade when the climate is hotter.

Water

The Agave ovatifolia water needs are low. However, with regular irrigation, they grow in size and colonize unwanted areas quickly. When you’re first establishing the young plants outdoors, water them every four to five days in the first month.

After that, regular irrigation should occur once a week, and gradually reduce the number of times you water to every other week until they fully mature. Once established, water them occasionally – once every couple of weeks in summer and monthly in winter – to maintain healthy roots. Give additional water only when the top inch or two of the soil seems dry.

Soil

Agaves can tolerate any well-draining soil; however, they mostly prefer sandy or rocky soil. The plants aren’t particular about the soil pH. If you can, make sure to grow them under the sun from the beginning instead of transplanting them.

Fertilizer

Agave ovatifolia doesn’t need fertilizing. Feeding generally encourages the greenish-yellow flowers – a flower color that would mean death for the succulent. Therefore, if you want the plants to live for longer, don’t fertilize them at all.

Maintenance

The whale’s tongue agave should ideally be pruned at the end of winter. Use a clean, sharp knife to trim off dead leaves, reshape the plant, and prevent overcrowding. However, cutting too much can stress the succulent and impede its ability to store water.

Transplanting

Here are the easy steps to transplant this succulent to your garden. Start by putting on heavy leather gloves as the plants have dangerous spikes on their sides. This is part of the proverbial image of Agave ovatifolia.

Propagation

Agave ovatifolia can be propagated from seed and bulbils. As it doesn’t produce offsets, you can sow the seeds in early spring when the temperature is 55-70°F (13-21°C). Make sure not to plant agave on roadsides or near pets and children, as they have sharp teeth. Since they’re solitary, choose a well-lit, remote spot in your garden for propagation.

Common Problems

If you’re growing Agave ovatifolia in your garden, you won’t need to do much. As long as it’s getting ample sunshine and minimal moisture, it will thrive well on neglect.

Growing Problems

Most of the time, you won’t experience problems. However, if it receives too little light, the leaves can become chlorotic and will eventually fall off the plant. Too much light will cause the leaf tips to singe. Either provide shade for a plant in too much light or remove obstructions to increase the light.

Diseases

This drought-tolerant plant is quite hardy and generally lives a pest and disease-free life. However, if it is overwatered or planted in soil that doesn’t drain, it could take on root rot. Remove any damaged leaves and stop watering your agave until the soil completely dries. In severe cases, unearth and transplant your agave to an area with fresh soil and better drainage.

Anthracnose is also a disease that agave can contract. Caused by the pathogen colletotrichum, this disease is caused by the same conditions that cause rot. You’ll notice this disease when ring-like lesions and sporangia form on the leaves. There is no known effective cure for this disease, so remove damaged leaves as they crop up.

Pests

Watch out for the agave snout weevil that can lay its eggs in the plant’s center, which causes the succulent to collapse. Unfortunately, the only thing you can do is remove the affected plant and check the healthy ones for grubs.