Characteristics of the Blue Agave Plant

Appearance

• The blue agave plant is made up of large, spiny leaves that are of a near uniform length and have a blue tint. Some stick straight up into the air while others droop toward the ground, especially when the plants reach their full height and the leaves get very heavy. The plants often grow as high as 8 feet, though it takes years for them to reach their full size.

Pina

• The pina of the blue agave plant is its most valuable asset. This is sometimes called the heart of the plant, and it looks something like a pineapple. These are not harvested until the plant is mature. The pina itself often weighs more than 100 pounds at harvest. A blue agave plant does not produce a second pina. Once it has been harvested, the plant dies.

Growth

• In the commercial blue agave industry, new plants are grown from small offshoots of older plants. These are harvested and raised in a controlled environment for a season before being seeded back into a field. The small starter plants are called "mecuates." After being planted in the field, it takes nearly a decade for the plant to mature.

Growing Conditions

• Blue agave is native to Mexico, and can be grown to some degree in any hot and dry environment that simulates its native growing conditions. However, it grows best in volcanic soil. In Mexico, the plant especially thrives in the rich volcanic soil found in the state of Jalisco.

Indoor Growing

• Blue agave grown indoors can live for many years without frequent transplanting since it grows slowly. As a succulent, the blue agave does not need frequent watering and survives fine in the shade, making it a low-maintenance indoor plant. However, the plant is quite spiny, so keep it in a location where children and pets won't hurt themselves.