How to Identify Large Agave Plant Stripes on Leaves

Identify the Agave americana Marginata, or variegated century plant, by its yellow stripes along the edges of each large green leaf. This agave typically grows 3 to 5 feet tall and 2 to 5 feet wide.

Study the leaves to identify the A. americana Medio-picta Alba, another cultivated variety of the variegated century plant. The Medio-picta Alba agave has a white stripe down the center of each blue-green leaf. This agave is slow-growing but reaches a mature height and width of 4 to 5 feet.

Identify the A. americana var. protoamericana Lemon Lime, another type of variegated century plant, by its striking leaves. The Lemon Lime agave has blue-gray leaves, each with a yellowish-green stripe down the center. This agave cultivar varies in height and width, but is typically close to 4 feet tall and wide like its parent species, the A. americana var. protoamericana.

Look at the plant's leaf characteristics to identify the A. angustifolia Marginata, also called the variegated Caribbean agave. The leaves are bright green with white vertical stripes. This agave grows 3 to 4 feet tall and wide in a compact, symmetrical form.

Spot the A. desmittiana 'Variegata or variegated smooth agave by looking at the plant's form, growth rate and leaf characteristics. The variegated smooth agave grows to a mature height and spread of 2 to 3 feet with an urn-shaped, upright form. The leaves are variegated with green and light green, and they have dark-brown terminal spines that resemble vertical stripes down the center of each leaf.

Study the leaf shape and color, as well as the plant form and size, to identify the Agave Joe Hoak or Joe Hoak variegated agave. This agave grows 2 to 3 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide with an urn-shaped form. The leaves are recurved and graceful, with gray, green and cream variegation and striping.

Identify the A. lophantha Splendid, also called the Splendid agave or thorn-crested agave, by its bright-green to dark-green leaves that each have a prominent yellowish-green stripe down the middle. This agave grows up to 2 feet tall and 2 to 4 feet wide, and it's slightly more cold-tolerant than many other agave varieties.

Spot the A. Victoria-reginae or Queen Victoria century plant by its naturally globe-like or rounded form that's very symmetrical. This agave grows up to 3 feet tall and wide with stocky, triangle-shaped leaves that are dark-green with white stripes along the leaf margins. The leaves sometimes also bear other white markings as well. This agave is best identified while it's blooming, bearing a 10-foot-tall flower spike with white, red-tinged blooms.

Identify the Agave Cornelius, or Cornelius century plant, by its slightly smaller size -- 1 to 2 feet in height and 2 to 4 feet in width. The slow-growing Cornelius agave has bright-green leaves with yellow stripes along the margins.