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Desert agave

Agave deserti

Last reviewed: August 2026

Desert agave (Agave deserti)
Photo: (c) Marshal Hedin, some rights reserved (CC BY)

Light

full sun

Water

low

Size

12"–24" H × 24"–36" W

Bloom

May, Jun, Jul

Native to

CA

Pollinators

bees, hummingbirds

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A rosette-forming succulent with rigid, spine-tipped gray-green leaves that stays architectural and compact for years. Each rosette flowers only once, sending up a tall stalk of yellow blooms before that rosette dies back.

Wildlife value

The towering bloom stalk is a major nectar source for bees and hummingbirds, and in its native range for nectar-feeding bats.

Common questions

How much sun does Desert agave need?
Desert agave grows best in full sun conditions.
When does Desert agave bloom?
Desert agave blooms in May, June, and July.
Where is Desert agave native?
Desert agave (Agave deserti) is native to CA, per vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists.
What pollinators does Desert agave attract?
Desert agave draws bees and hummingbirds.

Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

Ready to grow Desert agave? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.

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