Water
Water thoroughly when the soil is completely dry, usually every 2-4 weeks during the growing season. Reduce watering significantly in cooler months, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings to prevent root rot.
Ensure excellent drainage.
Shafer's Agave (Agave shaferi) is a striking succulent with sharp, gray-green leaves forming a rosette, native to Mexico. It's drought-tolerant and low-maintenance.
At-a-glance light, water, soil, and growing conditions from plant data
Full Sun to Partial Shade
75% intensity
Prefers bright, direct sunlight for best growth and form.
Infrequent
25% intensity
Allow soil to dry out completely between waterings. Reduce in winter.
Well-draining, sandy, or gritty soil
50% intensity
Moderate to Warm
50% intensity
Prefers temperatures between 18-24°C. Protect from frost.
Low
25% intensity
Feed sparingly with a balanced liquid fertilizer once in spring.
Safety information from plant toxicity data
| Attribute | Value |
|---|
Agave species can cause skin irritation due to sap. Ingestion can cause gastrointestinal upset and oral irritation.
Key traits and growing stats from plant data
Watering, pruning, propagation, and repotting details from plant data
Water thoroughly when the soil is completely dry, usually every 2-4 weeks during the growing season. Reduce watering significantly in cooler months, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings to prevent root rot.
Ensure excellent drainage.
Remove dead or damaged leaves at the base of the plant using a sharp, clean knife or pruners. This improves the plant's appearance and health. Pruning is generally minimal, as agaves maintain a tidy form naturally.
Agaves are primarily propagated through offsets (pups) that grow from the base of the mother plant. Carefully separate these pups with a sharp knife, allow them to callus for a few days, and then plant them in well-draining soil.
Repot only when the plant becomes root-bound, typically every 2-3 years, preferably in spring. Use a well-draining cactus or succulent mix.
Choose a pot that is only slightly larger than the current one to avoid excess moisture retention.
Identify plants like this with ePlant
Snap a photo to get care tips and match similar species on the go.
Monthly activity intensity for bloom and fruit across both hemispheres.
Flowering & fruiting calendar
Flowering & fruiting calendar
Photos of Shafer's Agave (Agave shaferi)
Common names and botanical synonyms
Botanical classification
| Rank | Name |
|---|---|
| kingdom | Plantae |
| division | Tracheophyta |
| class | Liliopsida |
| order | Asparagales |
| family | Asparagaceae |
| genus | Agave |
| species | Agave shaferi |
Answers based on plant encyclopedia data