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Summary

A fleshy succulent to 2m that is grown commercially in Mexico as the base ingredient for tequila.

Physical Characteristics

Agave angustifolia is an evergreen Perennial growing to 2 m (6ft) by 2 m (6ft) at a medium rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. The flowers are pollinated by Bats.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry soil and can tolerate drought.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Agave angustifolia tequilana (F.A.C.Weber) Valenz.-Zap. & Nabhan Agave palmaris Trel. Agave pedrosana Trel. Agave pes-mulae Trel. Agave pseudotequilana Trel.

Plant Habitats

Edible Uses

The sap of the plant is concentrated to make a sugar-rich syrup known as 'Agave syrup' or 'Agave nectar'[301 ]. The sugar-rich sap is extracted from the roasted bases of the defoliated flowering stems of the plants shortly before flowering, and is then fermented and distilled into mescal and tequila[301 , 317 , 1845 ]. Tequila is a distilled alcoholic beverage similar to mezcal, but only made in a small region of Mexico and only from a limited number of species. Mature plants are harvested from the wild, their leaves and roots are removed and the remaining 'hearts' are baked (often in an earth oven), then mashed and the resulting liquid allowed to ferment for a few days before being distilled to produce tequila.

References More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.

None known

References More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

A fibre is obtained from the leaves[317 ]. Known as 'Jarsia', the fibres are soft enough to be used for yarn production[317 ]. The squeezed shoot axes are used to stabilize loam-bricks[317 ]. Recently, blue agave has also been suggested as a potential source of ethanol (biofuel).

Special Uses

References More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Requires a sunny position[423 ]. Requires a well-drained soil[423 ]. Succeeds in poor soils[423 ]. Established plants are very drought tolerant[423 ]. The plant favours altitudes of more than 1,500 metres (5,000 ft) and grows in rich and sandy soils. A monocarpic species - the plant lives for a number of years without flowering but dies once it does flower. However, it normally produces plenty of suckers during its life and these continue growing, taking about 10 - 15 years in a warm climate, considerably longer in colder ones, before flowering[11 ]. The cultivar 'Azul', or blue agave, is preferred for tequila production[301 ]. Specimens have been recorded living up to 50 years in gardens. Blue agaves sprout a stalk (quiote) when about five years old that can grow an additional 5 metres (16ft); they are topped with yellow flowers. The stalk is cut off from commercial plants so the plant will put more energy into the heart.

References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

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Plant Propagation

Seed - surface sow in a container in a light position. The seed usually germinates in 1 - 3 months at 20°c[133 ]. Prick out the seedlings into pots of well-drained soil when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in a sunny position until they are at least 20cm tall. Matures Agave produces “pups,” or outgrowths on the base of the plant used for propagation.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Blue agave, Chino azul

Native Range

NORTHERN AMERICA: Mexico, Jalisco, Oaxaca, Puebla,

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so itâ€™s worth checking.

some closely related species are invasive. For this reason, blue agave has been identified as a weed, though a relatively low risk one.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : This taxon has not yet been assessed

Related Plants

Latin Name	Common Name	Habit	Height	Hardiness	Growth	Soil	Shade	Moisture	Edible	Medicinal	Other
Agave americana	Agave, American century plant	Perennial	7.5	8-11	S	LM	N	DM	3	3	3
Agave cantala agave	Agave	Perennial	2.0	9-12	F	LMH	N	DM	2	0	4
Agave chrysantha	Golden-flowered Agave	Perennial	1.0	9-11	M	LMH	N	DM	2	1	2
Agave deserti	Desert Agave	Perennial	0.4	9-11	M	LMH	N	DM	3	0	3
Agave fourcroydes	Henequen	Perennial	1.8	10-12	M	LMH	N	DM	0	1	3
Agave lechuguilla	Ixtle, Chihuahua	Perennial	0.6	10-12	M	LMH	N	DM	1	2	4
Agave murpheyi	Hohokam Agave, Murphey agave	Perennial	1.0	8-12	S	LMH	N	DM	2	0	4
Agave palmeri	Palmer’s agave	Perennial	1.0	7-11	M	LMH	N	DM	3	0	2
Agave parryi	Century Plant, Parry's agave, Mescal	Perennial	0.5	9-11	S	LM	N	DM	3	1	2
Agave salmiana	Pulque Agave, Giant Agave	Perennial	2.0	9-11	M	LMH	N	DM	3	0	2
Agave sisalana	Sisal	Perennial	2.0	9-11	F	LMH	SN	DM	2	2	4
Agave tequilana	Blue Agave, Mescal, Tequila.	Perennial	2.0	10-12	M	LMH	N	D	4	0	3
Agave utahensis	Century Plant	Perennial	2.0	6-10	M	LM	N	DM	2	2	2
Agave utahensis discreta	Century Plant	Perennial	4.0	8-11		LM	N	DM	3	1	2
Agave utahensis eborispina	Century Plant	Perennial	4.0	8-11		LM	N	DM	3	1	2
Agave vivipara	Mescal Casero	Perennial	1.0	10-12	M	LMH	N	DM	3	0	3

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

Agave angustifolia - F.A.C.Weber