How to Xeroscape With Desert Agaves

According to the "Sunset Western Garden Book," low water requirements make the agave suitable for rock gardens and landscape areas in both dry desert and coastal areas in climate zones 12, 13, 15 to 17 and 21 to 24. Agaves retain their own water and nutrients, requiring only natural rainfall to thrive. The statuesque Agave americana, or century plant, sports long, spear-shaped leaves up to 6 feet long, and an eventual flower stalk that sprouts up to 40 feet. A living sculpture best suited to large rock garden areas (at least 10 feet from any walkways), this plant could need watering every two weeks in extreme desert summer conditions or drought, but given adequate drainage, it requires no more than average rainfall and thrives in a xeroscape environment.

Agaves range from the century plant to smaller plants suitable for container gardening. Agaves in containers can be maintained out-of-zone provided they have adequate drainage and are protected from cold and frost. The leaves vary from trunk-like to spindly and rosette-shaped. Smaller agaves suited to rock gardens or containers include Agave attenuata, which has rosette-shaped leaves. The Agave attenuata has a non-invasive root system and is suited for poolside landscapes as well as xeroscape gardens. In especially dry areas this variety may require more water than others of the genus.

The varieties in leaf texture and color make the agave a good supportive plant, providing a backdrop for showier flowering plants, although the agave certainly can take center stage as an accent plant. Colors range from silver and gray-greens to blue-green and white lined leaves. In xeroscape gardens, the interesting shapes of agave and varied shades of green provide a background for flowering xeroscape plants such as salvia, bird of paradise, kangaroo paw, hesperaloe and santolina, among others.

All agaves provide windbreak, and many varieties are suited to open areas. Agaves are also good in poolside landscapes because their root systems do not sprawl into pipes or damage cement patios and walkways. In more humid, high-temperature zones, most varieties of agave repel deer but attract birds and bats.

Although agaves are excellent plants for xeroscaping, they do have sharp tips on their leaves, and, in some cases, hooked thorns. Moving them, therefore, requires wearing thick, protective gloves and using tools carefully. Agaves need to be kept away from walkways, gates and areas where children or pets might encounter them.