Agave xylonacantha

The Agave xylonacantha, known as saw-leaf agave, is native to central and north-eastern Mexico, where it grows on dry limestone hills and in arid scrub. Its name, from the Greek for ‘wood’ and ‘thorn’, refers to the hard, woody teeth that line its leaves, the feature that makes this one of the most recognizable agaves.

It forms an open, irregular rosette of long, narrow, rigid leaves, green to bluish-green, each edged with a continuous pale grey to whitish horny margin. Along this border sit large, irregular teeth, often in pairs, and every leaf ends in a strong terminal spine. The plant produces offsets at the base over time and, when mature, flowers on a tall, dense spike covered with greenish-yellow flowers.

• Long, rigid leaves with a continuous pale horny margin
• Large, irregular woody teeth, often paired
• Strong terminal spine on every leaf
• Forms offsets with age
• Very drought tolerant and suited to limestone soils

Robust and undemanding, Agave xylonacantha thrives in full sun and very free-draining soil and needs very little water. Its sculptural, saw-edged leaves make it a bold focal point for dry gardens, rockeries and large containers, with protection from hard frost in colder climates.

IMPORTANT: The pictures show the spines of mother plant, which isnot for sale. The offer includes a plant of the size selected.