Whales Tongue Agave / Whale’s Tongue Agave – Desert Horizon Nursery

Whales Tongue Agave

Agave ovatifolia
Categories:
Cacti & Succulents  ·  
Agave
Light
Full sun
Water
Low water once established. Water deeply, then let the root zone dry thoroughly; occasional supplemental summer irrigation supports growth in Phoenix. Reduce watering substantially in winter and avoid wetting the crown.
Size
3-5 ft tall × 4-6 ft wide
Habit
Rosette succulent
Toxicity
Sap / Skin Irritant
Description
A sculptural agave with broad, cupped, powdery blue-gray leaves resembling a whale’s tongue, edged with small teeth and tipped with sharp terminal spines.
Bloom Time
Late spring to summer; monocarpic / blooms once at end of life cycle
Deciduous / Evergreen
Evergreen
Special Features
Cold Hardy, Colorful Foliage, Drought Tolerant
Growth Rate
Slow to moderate
Growth Habit
Rosette succulent
Mature Size
3-5 ft tall × 4-6 ft wide
Flower Color
Yellow-green
Foliage Color
Blue-gray
Landscape Use
Border / Bed, Cactus / Succulent Garden, Container / Patio, Desert / Xeriscape, Specimen / Accent
Garden Style
Container / Patio, Desert / Xeriscape
Soil
Amended / Rich, Sandy / Rocky
Companion Plants
Blackfoot daisy, Desert spoon, Golden barrel cactus, Red yucca, Santa Rita prickly pear
Sap / Skin Irritant
Sap is a skin/eye irritant
Care Instructions

Light: Full sun to light shade; afternoon shade is beneficial in Phoenix, especially near heat-reflecting walls or pavement.

Water: Low water once established. Water deeply, then let the root zone dry thoroughly; occasional supplemental summer irrigation supports growth in Phoenix. Reduce watering substantially in winter and avoid wetting the crown.

Soil: Excellent drainage is essential; sandy, gravelly, or mineral-rich soil is preferred. Use a raised mound where native soil drains poorly.

Mature size: 3–5 feet tall and 5–6 feet wide, excluding the flower stalk.

Bloom: Blooms once at maturity, often after 10–20 years or longer, then the flowering rosette dies.

Evergreen / deciduous: Evergreen.

Growth rate: Slow to moderate; faster with appropriate supplemental water and good drainage.